Jesus revealed himself as the Savior of the world. Ian Peoples, SJ, reflects on how, this last Sunday of the Christmas Season, we celebrate how Jesus uplifts the true, the good, and the beautiful of every ethnicity, culture, and language.
Have you ever had an epiphany?
Hi, my name is Ian Peoples, and this is my one-minute reflection. Today, we celebrate the Solemnity of the Epiphany of the Lord, the revelation of Jesus Christ as the Son of God, the savior of the world.
Our gospel today tells how the three wise men from the East visited the newborn Jesus to pay him homage with gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh. The first reading from the book of the prophet Isaiah tells us of God’s promise to Jerusalem that God’s light will shine in glory upon them. It then says, “Nations shall walk by your light, and kings by your shining radiance.”
The fulfillment of this promise is Jesus Christ, the Messiah whose coming was foretold in the Hebrew scriptures. Our great epiphany, however, is that Jesus is the savior not only of the Israelites but all peoples. The Magi were Gentiles, and their coming to the Holy Family was a sign of God’s promise that the light of Jerusalem, Jesus Christ, is, in fact, the light of the world.
Just as the Holy Family received the gifts of these three foreigners, God desires to uplift the good, the beautiful, and the true in every culture, ethnicity, and language. God also wants to use our personal gifts and talents so that his light may shine on the people we encounter.
How is God using your gifts to help others receive this epiphany?
