Jesus Reveals His Divinity To Us
The Epiphany of the Lord
“Lord, every nation on earth will adore you.”Ps. 72
Epiphany means manifestation, what comes to light. Why is this feast called that, where we celebrate the visit of the three wise men from the East who arrived with offerings at the manger in Bethlehem? The honorable visitors who came from afar seeking the King who was to be born and guided by the stars represent the pagan peoples, the non-Jews. Hence, the tradition of the Church sees in this episode the first showing of the Son of God to all peoples, to the non-Jews. Jesus would later send his apostles and disciples to proclaim so that the whole world would come to know him, be baptized, and become disciples.
But tradition acknowledges two other epiphanies of the Lord. The other was his manifestation to the Jewish people as the Messiah they awaited when he was baptized by John in the River Jordan, and the Spirit manifested itself coming upon Him, as well as the voice of the Father from heaven testifying: ‘This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.’ Indeed, it was the Jews who came to the Jordan to be baptized by John, moved by his preaching to conversion and transformation. There, they received for the first time the manifestation of Christ as the Anointed One by the Spirit of whom the prophets had spoken.
The other epiphany would be Jesus’ manifestation to his 12 apostles. This happened when they were invited to the wedding in Cana of Galilee, where they witnessed the first of his signs, the transformation of water into wine, and the text concludes: ‘…thus he revealed his glory, and his disciples believed in Him!’ Christ manifested his divinity.
And you, has the Lord manifested Himself to you? Has He been able to reveal His glory and divinity to you? Have you ever experienced the greatness of His love and power in your life? If you haven’t had that experience yet, I recommend that you ask for it, seek it, for He does not hide from those who seck Him with a sincere heart, and He easily allows Himself to be found by those who search for Him, giving more time to listen to Him, in the church, on social media, retreats, etc.
“Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you.”Matthew 7:7
“But from there you will seek the LORD your God, and you will find Him if you search for Him with all your heart and all your soul.”Deuteronomy 4:29
Normally, it is during spiritual retreats or congresses that the Lord grants us a strong experience of His divine, transformative love, in which we receive a new heart, a new life, just as it happened to the Magi, who returned by a different path; a sign of the conversion and change that He is capable of gifting us, always for our good.
Lord, allow us to experience Your immense love so that we may be transformed and live grateful to You forever. May Your love fill our hearts, so that You can continue to love and manifest Yourself to many through us.
Readings for the Week
Sunday: Is 60:1-6/Ps 72:1-2, 7-8, 10-11, 12-13 (see 11)/Eph 3:2-За, 5-6/Mt 2:1-12
Monday: Is 55:1-11/Is 12:2-3, 4bcd, 5-6 (3)/1 Jn 5:1-9/Mk 1:7-11
Tuesday: 1 Sm 1:9-20/1 Sm 2:1, 4-5, 6-7, 8abcd/ Mk 1:21-28
Wednesday: 1 Sm 3:1-10, 19-20/Ps 40:2 and 5, 7-8a, 8b-9, 10/Mk 1:29-39
Thursday: 1 Sm 4:1-11/Ps 44:10-11, 14-15, 24-25/Mk 1:40-45
Friday: 1 Sm 8:4-7, 10-22a/Ps 89:16-17, 18-19/Mk 2:1-12
Saturday: 1 Sm 9:1-4, 17-19; 10:1a/Ps 21:2-3, 4-5, 6-7/Mk 2:13-17
Next Sunday: 1 Sm 3:3b-10, 19/Ps 40:2, 4 7-8, 8-9, 10 (8a, 9a)/1 Cor 6:13c-15a, 17-20/Jn 1:35-42
Observances for the Week
Sunday: The Epiphany of the Lord
Monday: The Baptism of the Lord
Saturday: St. Hilary, Bishop and Doctor of the Church; BVM
Next Sunday: 2nd Sunday in Ordinary Time