This weekend we celebrate the Epiphany of our Lord. An “epiphany” can be defined as an “AHA” moment. It’s when a person suddenly realizes something totally unexpected in the course of his normal life and, as a result, is transformed. To experience an epiphany, a person must be open to new and different possibilities. Each of the apostles had an epiphany when Jesus called him. In the Fall of 1983, I suddenly realized that I was going to marry Rosemary. In the Fall of 2012, I suddenly realized that God was calling me to the priesthood. Both were epiphany moments that transformed me.
Today, the three magi or “wise men” have an epiphany when they encounter Jesus Christ and they are transformed. They came to Bethlehem searching for the newborn king. They did not know exactly where their journey would take them or what they would see when they got there. Yet they were ready and willing to follow the star. On the other hand, Herod and the Jewish leaders of the day were complacent, comfortable, and satisfied. They were afraid to search for the “newborn king” because they didn’t know who or what they would find.
What about us? When we journey to Mass each week, what are we seeking? Are we curious? Are we searching? If so, what are we searching for? Are we afraid that finding Jesus will disrupt our comfortable lives? Are we willing to sacrifice to search for Jesus as the magi did? Are we transformed by the Mass? Do we leave here better than when we arrived? Are we more loving, more caring, more compassionate, more patient, and more like Christ or do we get frustrated or irritated before we even leave the parking lot?
Finding Christ is easier for us than it was for the magi. Yet, finding Him is not really our goal. We must do more than simply find Him here or there. We must have an epiphany when we find Him. We must allow Him to transform us. Like the magi, we must leave Mass always ready to follow a different path and must be determined to stay on that different path. Our lives can never be the same because we have had a life-changing encounter with Jesus Christ - the Light of the World.
Fr. Mike
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