Searching

Searching 

   Today is the feast of the Epiphany, where the Kings brings the gifts to Jesus. I will talk about the “gifts” in a different blog during the week. Today, I want to focus on the Three Wise Men/Kings journey. They saw a sign and decided to actively find this special child. The journey is not like today. There was no GPS or Rest Stops. They packed and left and not sure of where they would end up. Yes, I get in my car and just drive sometimes but I have a GPS or Signs that can bring me back home. 

   Do we today, go out and search for Jesus? They did not wait for Him to come to them but set out to find Him. How do we search for Jesus today in the world? What do we do that takes us from the comfort of our homes and look for Jesus? Sometimes we need to go outside our comfort zone to search for Jesus and meet Him in a different way. We all need to be active in the search. There is no one exempt from this. For some part of the journey and search would be opening up the Bible and read the words of Jesus. Others may need to go on a retreat. Some may get involved in ministries both inside and outside of the Church. Those are some ways I know I have searched for Jesus. It is also searching for Jesus in the hurt and pain in the world. We can look to those who serve the least and see Jesus at work. We can look to those who aid victims of devastation as Jesus at work. Maybe you see Jesus in nature and all of its Glory. It can be in a smile of a child that you see Jesus. We are not going to get this huge blinking sign in the form of an arrow that will say “ Here is a Jesus Moment” and point to it. We do need to be on the look out for those times where we can see Jesus in the world and in our daily lives.

   The Wise Men took a leap of faith and searched for the miracle of Jesus. We too must do that. Seek those miracles around us and even go in search of them. This is an active Faith. If we are not moving and searching then we will just stand and never grow in love or understanding. They best way to learn about something or someone is to go on a journey of self discovery. Today we have the whole world of information at our finger tips and with just a few clips we can be transported all over the world. We have it easier but it still is a challenge sometimes to do this search. We have to stop the games, the chats and search. 

   Make that effort and search for Jesus on this day and everyday. The Wise men did not reach their destiny or destination over night. It took time and so will your search. 

Until tomorrow, God Bless, and let your heart, mind and soul lead you in your search. 

Solemnity of the Epiphany of the Lord
Lectionary: 20

Reading 1

IS 60:1-6

Rise up in splendor, Jerusalem! Your light has come,

the glory of the Lord shines upon you.

See, darkness covers the earth,

and thick clouds cover the peoples;

but upon you the LORD shines,

and over you appears his glory.

Nations shall walk by your light,

and kings by your shining radiance.

Raise your eyes and look about;

they all gather and come to you:

your sons come from afar,

and your daughters in the arms of their nurses.

Then you shall be radiant at what you see,

your heart shall throb and overflow,

for the riches of the sea shall be emptied out before you,

the wealth of nations shall be brought to you.

Caravans of camels shall fill you,

dromedaries from Midian and Ephah;

all from Sheba shall come

bearing gold and frankincense,

and proclaiming the praises of the LORD. 

Responsorial Psalm

PS 72:1-2, 7-8, 10-11, 12-13

R/ (cf. 11) Lord, every nation on earth will adore you.

O God, with your judgment endow the king,

and with your justice, the king’s son;

He shall govern your people with justice

and your afflicted ones with judgment.

R/ Lord, every nation on earth will adore you.

Justice shall flower in his days,

and profound peace, till the moon be no more.

May he rule from sea to sea,

and from the River to the ends of the earth.

R/ Lord, every nation on earth will adore you.

The kings of Tarshish and the Isles shall offer gifts;

the kings of Arabia and Seba shall bring tribute.

All kings shall pay him homage,

all nations shall serve him.

R/ Lord, every nation on earth will adore you.

For he shall rescue the poor when he cries out,

and the afflicted when he has no one to help him.

He shall have pity for the lowly and the poor;

the lives of the poor he shall save.

R/ Lord, every nation on earth will adore you.

Reading 2

EPH 3:2-3A, 5-6

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 copartners in the promise in Christ Jesus through the gospel.

Gospel

MT 2:1-12

When Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea,

in the days of King Herod, 

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.”

When King Herod heard this,

he was greatly troubled, 

and all Jerusalem with him.

Assembling all the chief priests and the scribes of the people, 

He inquired of them where the Christ was to be born.

They said to him, “In Bethlehem of Judea, 

for thus it has been written through the prophet:

And you, Bethlehem, land of Judah,

are by no means least among the rulers of Judah;

since from you shall come a ruler,

who is to shepherd my people Israel.”

Then Herod called the magi secretly 

and ascertained from them the time of the star’s appearance.

He sent them to Bethlehem and said, 

“Go and search diligently for the child.

When you have found him, bring me word, 

that I too may go and do him homage.”

After their audience with the king they set out.

And behold, the star that they had seen at its rising preceded them, 

until it came and stopped over the place where the child was.

They were overjoyed at seeing the star, 

and on entering the house

they saw the child with Mary his mother.

They prostrated themselves and did him homage.

Then they opened their treasures 

and offered him gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh.

And having been warned in a dream not to return to Herod, 

they departed for their country by another way.