Saturday, January 2, 2010

Let us also adore Him

“We three Kings of Orient are…” we sing at Mass on this lovely feast of the Epiphany of Jesus to the Magi – the first manifestation of the Son of God to the Gentiles. Tradition tells us that the three were not kings at all but astrologers or those who studied the juxtaposition and movement of the stars and the heavens.

In his homily on this feast in 2009 Pope Benedict XVI gave us this reflection: We have seen his star in the East, and have come to adore the Lord" (Gospel acclamation, cf. Mt 2:2). “What amazes us each time we listen to these words of the Magi is that they prostrated themselves before a simple baby in his mother's arms, not in the setting of a royal palace but, on the contrary, in the poverty of a stable in Bethlehem (cf. Mt 2:11). How was this possible? What convinced the Magi that the Child was "the King of the Jews" and the King of the peoples? There is no doubt that they were persuaded by the sign of the star that they had seen "in its rising" and which had come to rest precisely over the place where the Child was found (cf. Mt 2:9). But even the star would not have sufficed had the Magi not been people inwardly open to the truth.

"In comparison with King Herod, beset with his interests of power and riches, the Magi were directed toward the goal of their quest and when they found it, although they were cultured men, they behaved like the shepherds of Bethlehem: they recognized the sign and adored the Child, offering him the precious and symbolic gifts that they had brought with them.

"Dear brothers and sisters, let us too pause in spirit to contemplate the image of the adoration of the Magi. It contains a demanding and ever timely message. It is demanding and ever timely, first of all for the Church, which, reflected in Mary, is called to show to mankind Jesus, nothing but Jesus. Indeed, he is the All and the Church exists solely to remain united to him and to make him known to the world. May the Mother of the Incarnate Word help us to be docile disciples of her Son, the Light of the nations!"

And at World Youth Day in Cologne in 2005 our Holy Father helped us to see that each day is an Epiphany:

Going into the house, they saw the child with Mary his mother, and they fell down and worshipped him” (Mt 2:11). Dear friends, this is not a distant story that took place long go. It is with us now. Here in the sacred Host he is present before us and in our midst. As at that time, so now he is mysteriously veiled in a sacred silence; as at that time, it is here that the true face of God is revealed. For us he became a grain of wheat that falls on the ground and dies and bears fruit until the end of the world (cf. Jn 12:24). He is present now as he was then in Bethlehem. He invites us to that inner pilgrimage which is called adoration. Let us set off on this pilgrimage of the spirit and let us ask him to be our guide. Amen."

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