by Fr. John Martin Shimkus, O.S.B.

     As you know the Feast we celebrate this Sunday is called the "Epiphany of the Lord."  Epiphany is a word that designates a revelation of God or manifestation of some great truth.  Epiphanies often occur in what is called an “aha” moment, a sudden breaking in of God’s grace and wisdom into our lives, sometimes after years of doubt and struggle.

     The story of the Magi in today’s gospel illustrates a truly powerful epiphany, a revelation that helped them and us to experience more deeply God’s presence in our lives.  A group of learned astrologers from the East observed a new star, and believed it would lead them to a new king to be born in the land of Judah.  Naturally they searched for the king in the capital city of Jerusalem, but were surprised - and disturbed - that not only was the new king not there, but the current king was actually troubled at the news.

     Undaunted the Magi, armed with the name of a town - “Bethlehem” - and the guidance of the star, continued their search.  And in a simple house, in the company of peasant girl named Mary, the new king was revealed - and not just a king like other kings, but a new kind of king, a king who rules in humility, a king who is one with his people, and yet a king in whom resides the fullness of God himself.  This was an epiphany in every sense, for the wise men found at the end of their journey a truth they could not have been taught, a truth they could not have expected.  And their faithfulness and openness to that truth brought them to this knowledge of God’s new and abiding presence on earth.

     As we journey through our lives, we are also invited to experience the epiphanies God has for us.  We are invited to be open to the help they bring us to live our faith with greater confidence.  A popular author and speaker named Elise Ballard suggests some important attitudes that can help us be open to what God wishes to reveal to us:

Listening - Quieting our minds to be more attentive to the deeper meaning of things.

Believing - Living from our faith that God is real, that by the coming of Jesus his Spirit fills our world, fills our hearts and is present in all people.

Taking action - Letting God's revelations to us change our lives in some way.  If God is behind some new wisdom or insight, then action comes more naturally to us and will be confirmed by God’s blessing of peace.

     Despite the similarity between our quest for God's revelation and the Magi's, one thing we have that they didn't is two thousand years of faith in God’s presence and action in the world through Jesus Christ.  God wants to continue to confirm that faith in each of us.  God plants in us the desire to see him more clearly and to follow him more faithfully.  May that desire lead us to a new experience of the Child of Bethlehem, and to the knowledge that God is still found by those who seek him with all their hearts!

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