January 3, 2016
(The Epiphany of the Lord)
Brothers and sisters: You have heard of the stewardship of God’s grace that was given to me for your benefit, namely, that the mystery was made known to me by revelation. It was not made known to people in other generations as it has now been revealed to his holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit: that the Gentiles are coheirs, members of the same body, and co-partners in the promise in Christ Jesus through the gospel. Eph_3:2-3a,5-6
You see, Paul had an epiphany! Jesus had revealed Himself to Paul to carry out a mission. And the mission itself was an epiphany! Jesus came not only for the salvation of the Jews, since He Himself was a Jew, but He came to reveal God’s salvation to ALL who believe in Him. That’s us too, beloved! And the sign? The sign that came years before was the appearance of three non-Jewish, Gentile believers at His birth: the Magi!
St. Matthew tells us, . . . 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.” Mt_2:1-12
And that . . . that gives us incredible HOPE, beloved. We too fall under the grace of God’s ultimate gift of eternal life. No longer is death a threat, for we know that as believers we WILL live in eternity with Jesus.
Ahhhhhhhhhh!
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