(Photo credit: Anne Bender- As children in our family we really celebrated the Epiphany well)
"If you wish to be brothers, let the weapons fall from your hands. One cannot love with offensive weapons in his hands." - Blessed Pope Paul VI
This past
weekend was the Feast of the Epiphany where we celebrate the event of
the three magi welcoming the young Christ child in the manger with
gifts of frankincense, gold and myrrh. What always fascinated me
about this scene was the fact that the Magi were from totally
different countries and had an extremely different way of worship.
Although they were complete strangers to the Holy Family, they still
allowed themselves to witness the coming of a young ruler, offered
him royal gifts and let Christ touch their hearts.
This is of
particular interest today because, as I look at the world, and as I
look at the situation in Milwaukee where so many people are angry and
confused, sad and hurting over the Dontre Hamilton Case, with
disrespect towards law enforcement and higher authorities, rising
abortion numbers, children without loving parents and guardians, and
young men and women deciding to break the law instead of practicing
honesty and integrity. There is so much violence and bigotry in our
city, and the Feast of the Epiphany is a perfect reminder that we
need to love a bit more, forgive a bit more and let everything that
divides us go.
Individually, we
all have a lot of worries and stresses that can weigh us down. In my
own life I have a lot of worries that can begin to weigh me down with
work, with the responsibilities of living on my own As we begin
this new year, it is my prayer that we offer our hearts, no matter
how blackened with sin or weighed down with worry to Christ, just as
the Magi offered their gifts. Let the love and the mercy of Christ
fill you with light and warmth this New Year.
