Sunday January 8, 2017: Epiphany Of the Lord: “Where is the newborn king of the Jews?”

Gospel – Matthew 2:1-12

When Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea, in the days of King Herod, behold, magi from the east arrived in Jerusalem, saying, “Where is the newborn king of the Jews? We saw his star at its rising and have come to do him homage.” When King Herod heard this, he was greatly troubled, and all Jerusalem with him. Assembling all the chief priests and the scribes of the people, He inquired of them where the Christ was to be born. They said to him, “In Bethlehem of Judea, for thus it has been written through the prophet: And you, Bethlehem, land of Judah, are by no means least among the rulers of Judah; since from you shall come a ruler, who is to shepherd my people Israel.” Then Herod called the magi secretly and ascertained from them the time of the star’s appearance. He sent them to Bethlehem and said, “Go and search diligently for the child. When you have found him, bring me word, that I too may go and do him homage.” After their audience with the king they set out. And behold, the star that they had seen at its rising preceded them, until it came and stopped over the place where the child was. They were overjoyed at seeing the star, and on entering the house they saw the child with Mary his mother.They prostrated themselves and did him homage. Then they opened their treasures and offered him gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh. And having been warned in a dream not to return to Herod, they departed for their country by another way.

The Catechism of the Catholic Church

528 The Epiphany is the manifestation of Jesus as Messiah of Israel, Son of God and Savior of the world. The great feast of Epiphany celebrates the adoration of Jesus by the wise men (magi) from the East, together with his baptism in the Jordan and the wedding feast at Cana in Galilee. In the magi, representatives of the neighboring pagan religions, the Gospel sees the first-fruits of the nations, who welcome the good news of salvation through the Incarnation. The magi’s coming to Jerusalem in order to pay homage to the king of the Jews shows that they seek in Israel, in the messianic light of the star of David, the one who will be king of the nations. Their coming means that pagans can discover Jesus and worship him as Son of God and Savior of the world only by turning toward the Jews and receiving from them the messianic promise as contained in the Old Testament. The Epiphany shows that “the full number of the nations” now takes its “place in the family of the patriarchs,” and acquires Israelitica dignitas (are made “worthy of the heritage of Israel”).

From “The Great Crusade of Mercy” Testimony of Catalina Rivas (CM 48:1-4)

1) You say that I descend from the stars, but to stay where? In your mangers, where the cold is more or less penetrating. I descend but without noticing if the kind of stable where I lie is filled with straw or not, if it has a modest door to shelter Me and the manger from the cold and the wind. 

2) My children, My dwelling place is actually in the Heavens and being with you only means favoring you. If I could sense unpleasantness, the odor of your stables would probably be intolerable, since the infinite perfection of My attributes would be unable to stand so much damp hay soaked with every type of wretchedness.  But I do not feel anything unpleasant about being with you even though I do not approve of so many things large and small.   

3) What I do is to wait and help you in a thousand ways with My gifts, to transform your stable into a dwelling place worthy of Me. And that will only happen completely in Heaven where there will no longer be any stables, but rather, luminous spirits merged in My eternal light.   

4) Yes, I descend from the stars because I do not wish to be only the King of Heaven but also the flame in your hearts… In Bethlehem I began to suffer for you and I delighted greatly in it because My human nature too, in that tiny new-born body, felt the warmth and the breath of My Mother and the affectionate embrace of Joseph in ecstasy. They are your role models.  Learn from them and ask them for a little of Their virtue, a little of Their love.

Each week we will be presenting a portion of the following Sunday’s readings, and linking it to relevant parts of the Catechism of the Catholic Church and messages from the Testimony of Catalina.  Pay special attention to the italicized sections.  This week we see John the Baptist as more than a prophet, and learn that he knew Jesus, but not as The One. We hope this is inspiring and educational. Any comments you have are certainly welcomed.

Each week we will be presenting a portion of the following Sunday’s readings, and linking it to relevant parts of the Catechism of the Catholic Church and messages from the Testimony of Catalina. Pay special attention to the italicized sections. This week we consider “Who will be first or last, humility and God’s Will.” We hope this is inspiring and educational. Any comments you have are certainly welcomed.