The Epiphany of the Lord
Scripture:
Isaiah 60:1-6
Ephesians 3:2-3a, 5-6
Matthew 2:1-12
Reflection:
Where is the newborn king of the Jews?
We saw his star at its rising
and have come to do him homage. -Matthew 2:2
Sitting in the barber’s chair getting my hair cut, the other day, I was bemoaning the fact that robots are taking over all the tasks that used to provide many of us with a good living (status in the community). He agreed saying: “Yes, they’re even talking about robots taking over my job!” I assured him that if he was still coming downtown to cut hair, I’d be coming to him to get my hair cut. (Two old chaps bemoaning progress–or is it?)
Where is this wealth of the nations that Isiah talks about in our first reading and Luke refers to in our Gospel passage today? I am reminded of my own heritage and family’s search experience. My father’s parents came to this promised land of America in 1909 because my grandfather (in 1909, women worked in the home which is the root of the word economics, care of our home) couldn’t find work. Upon arriving in Chicago, he went to work the next day, digging ditches for the gas company. Not too long after that he was able to get back to the work he did in Ireland and England, taking care of horses. Only here did he take care of the horses used for delivering milk to the citizens of his new home, Chicago.
God help me to continue the journey to you, realizing You have given me signs of your wealth and life, just like you did Isaiah, Herod, the Wise Men from another land, and the Shepards abiding around the lowly stable where your son Jesus was born. He was born because Mary and Joseph, two simple human beings just like me and those who went before me, were willing to understand, trust and act in a loving way to the messages you sent them.
Dan O’Donnell is a Passionist Partner and a longtime friend of the Passionists. He lives in Chicago.