It's Jesus!

A Reflection on the Second Reading for Sunday, January 7th, 2024:
The Solemnity of the Epiphany of the Lord

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Ephesians
3.2-3a, 5-6

Brothers and sisters: Surely you have already heard of the commission of God’s grace that was given me for you, and how the mystery was made known to me by revelation.

In former generations this mystery was not made known to humankind as it has now been revealed to his holy Apostles and Prophets by the Spirit: that is, the Gentiles have become fellow heirs, members of the same body, and sharers in the promise in Christ Jesus through the Gospel.

Pause. Pray. Reflect.

Blessed Feast of Epiphany to you! 

This Sunday is a feast of great mystery. As you may hear in a homily at Mass, Epiphany used to be a celebration in the church of three different moments of “epiphany” in the Gospels: worship of the wise men, the first miracle of Jesus at the wedding feast at Cana, and the Baptism of Jesus in Jordan. These three mysteries are brought together into one celebration: God’s revealing Himself to humanity in meekness, in glory, and in power! 

Our second reading for Sunday points to the beauty of revelation. Saint Paul emphasizes that the revealing of this mystery was not known to the people of the Old Testament as it is known to us. How privileged we are to have witnessed God-made-man in the person of Jesus Christ through all of our forefathers and through the Church! The Old Testament prophets were listening; now we have heard the Word. Before the Messiah, everyone was waiting; now we live in the fulfillment. For me, it is powerful to take a second to let that sink in: the coming of Jesus changes everything! 

Tonight I was at our church, practising with the choir an hour before Mass. As we were singing, I saw a little head of curly hair bobbing along on the other side of the altar. Next thing I know, a rosy-cheeked girl – probably three or four years old, dressed in a sparkly red dress – stopped directly in front of the tabernacle. The sight of her was so unexpected and so sweet that I stopped singing and watched her. She looked at me and, with the biggest smile and sparkling eyes, she pointed up at the tabernacle as if at a treasure. I smiled back and mouthed, “Yes, it’s beautiful!” She looked up at the tabernacle and again back at me and called out over the music, “It’s Jesus!” 

As the choir pressed on, she remained planted in front of the tabernacle for a long time, gazing up with glee. I couldn’t help but feel inspired by the joy of this child, who had eyes only for what is most exciting and true, a truth that we sometimes take for granted amidst the bustle of Christmas or when passing into our pew with an efficient genuflection. For the fullness of joy to be ours, the only truth we need to remember (but the one of which we are most forgetful) is that God was born in a manger in Bethlehem, and He is our way, our truth, and our life. Jesus is born! Amen!



Sr. Angela Burnham

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