“Where is the newborn king of the Jews?"

We continue the celebration of Christmas with the celebration of the Solemnity of the Epiphany on Sunday, Jan. 5, 2014 (EpiphanyA). And on the past Wednesday's New Year's Day Mass, we celebrated several themes: It is the Solemnity of Mary the Mother of God and World Day of Prayer for Peace. Our Discussion Questions will guide your Online Sunday Bible Study sessions with your family, friends and church groups.

Liturgically, January 1 is the Octave of Christmas - the "eighth day" after his birth when he shed a first drop of blood in the rite of circumsion. As part of that rite, he received his Holy Name - Jesus.

Jan. 1, Feast of Mary the Mother of God

Quickly after acclaiming the birth of the Messiah we turn with equal wonder in contemplation of his mother, immaculate and therefore "full of grace", who does not know man because she has vowed herself to perpetual virginity and whom all generations have called "blessed": the Blessed Virgin Mary.

But, Fr. Joseph Pellegrino clarifies, we certainly do not believe that Mary was a goddess. That’s polytheism and paganism. She posseses, as Father Cusick points out the highest, the rarest, the choicest prerogative of all. It is that she was without sin.

The understanding of today’s feast flows from and understanding of whom Jesus is. We believe that Jesus Christ is one person, with two natures, human and divine. And this paradoxical phrase - Mary the Mother of God - strikes at the very heart of Christmas. We extol the babe of Bethlehem as Emmanuel, God-with-us. He is so with us that after Gabriel’s visit to the Virgin of Nazareth, the Divine Word can never again be divided from our humanity.

At the moment of his conception in the womb of Mary, Dr. Marcellino D'Ambrosio explains, God the Son united himself with a human nature forever. Humanity and divinity were so closely bound together in Jesus, son of Mary, that they could never be separated again. That is why we celebrate this day as a holy day of obligation.

Mary was a peasant to the last and yet Harvard historian Henry Adams calls her "the most powerful religious symbol in fifteen hundred years of Western history." Fr. James Gilhooley tell us that Helen of Troy may have launched a thousand ships, but the woman from Nazareth has launched a million artists.

Feast of the Epiphany

The Feast of the Epiphany is the oldest in the Liturgical Calendar after Easter and Pentecost and Epiphany was celebrated long before even Christmas itself came to be regarded as a feast.

Fr. James Gilhooley oints out to us that Tradition has us speak of the magi as three. Yet Matthew does not use a number. We say three since he speaks of three gifts. Happily Matthew specifies the gifts for us. In the 8th century, Venerable Bede gave us the traditional interpretation of their symbolism. The gold paid homage to the Child's royal line. The incense saluted His divinity. The myrrh forewarned of the passion. Dr. Marcellino D'Ambrosio likewise notes the fact that Matthew gives them no names. They may be kings, but in this story they are merely supporting actors. They follow the true Star, the King of Kings. Only His name is important. Epiphany is not about the Magi–it’s all about Jesus.

Here in this story of the coming of the Wise Men we see clearly a very important element of Christ’s Mission coming in right from the start, namely, his mission to the Gentiles. Fr. Alex McAllister tells us that the rejection of Christ by Israel becomes the opportunity for Christ to be revealed to all the nations and so ultimately to us today.

The Wise Men offer gifts to Jesus because - Fr. Demetrius R. Dumm, O.S.B explains - they recognize that the humble wisdom of Jesus eclipses all forms of merely human wisdom. Jesus Christ was displayed before the world at His birth, during His baptism and through His public life, beginning with the wedding feast of Cana. Paul Dion, STL likewise notes that by giving gifts, they came to better know His reason for being. Pauls' intuition tells him that this is a way that God has of revealing Himself to us.

Thus, we need to show Christ's Presence to others in the very way we live our live, Fr. Joseph
Pellegrino reminds us. Catholic Christians would do well to seek last place and try to be servant of all. Especially, Fr. John Foley, S. J. notes, if we would like to know why, on this Epiphany, a tiny baby is light to all nations.

Finally, Fr. Ron Rolheiser shares the words from one of his retreat directors from several years ago: “I’m going to try to teach you how to pray so that sometime in prayer, you will open yourself up in such a way that you can hear God say to you - I love you! - because unless that happens you will always be dissatisfied and searching for something to give you a completeness you don’t feel. Nothing will ever be quite right. But once you hear God say those words, you won’t need to do that restless search anymore.”

Ushering in the New Year

The beginning of a new calendar year invites us to reflect on the past and focus on the future.

Most New Year's resolutions end up as failed endeavors. While Paul Dion, STL shares an important tip on how to fix your New year's resolutions. But when you ring in the New Year tonight and decide in your excitement to make some resolutions there is one you shouldn’t include: Finding a new job. Experts say you must be deliberate in deciding what you want and how to achieve it, or don't bother at all.

Now here's something worth staying up late to ponder: the Yom Yahweh, the Day of the Lord, in which every tear will be wiped away and all things will be made new; the day when the Father brings to completion, in the Supper of the Lamb, the work of salvation first announced in the call of Abraham; the day which begins that endless day called the Kingdom come in its fullness; the day on which that often-hollow phrase “the international community” takes on real meaning. Compared to that, Times Square on New Year’s Eve is pretty small beer.

Glad Tidings & Mark Wahlberg

Judith Costello shares another article from her blog, Mysteries of Parenting. Her writing projects are on hold. And today, she is not a Working Writer. Instead, she is a Nurse, Nag and Comforter. These kind of days remind us that we are not in charge. God is in charge of this world and my life. He holds the bigger vision. He knows what can be learned from these days set apart from the usual routine. He can truly heal all of us.

And here's one truly inspiring story. In the modern world, we are told, religion is being pushed to the side. Church-going is down, cynicism is up, and old-fashioned Christianity is not so slowly going the way of the penny-farthing bicycle. And nowhere, we are told, is this more apparent than in Hollywood, land of the superficial, the catch-a-passing-trend, the every-man-for-himself. And then there is Mark Wahlberg. Gabrielle Donnelly speaks to the Hollywood superstar about his family, his Catholic faith, and being sent to jail as a teenager.

“Being a Catholic is the most important aspect of my life,” Wahlberg says, "the first thing I do each day is pray." Now that is truly inspiring.

Another eventful week in our Catholic world. Happy New Year to you all!

Keep the Faith. Peace.

Wally Arida
Publisher & Editor in chief

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BURNING QUESTION: Why do we pray the Rosary at Catholic Funerals?
FEATURED BLOG: How to fix your New year's resolutions
PASTORAL HISPANA: Eso es Epifania

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"Where is the newborn king of the Jews?"

The Epiphany gospel this Sunday, Jan. 8, 2011, is a continuation of the Christmas story in Matthew's prologue to his gospel. This story is is portrayed by the coming of the Three Wise Men from the East to do Him homage. Our Discussion Questions will guide your Sunday Bible Study with family, friends and church groups.

The Greek word “epiphaneia” means “appearance” and in the western churches Epiphany commemorates the appearance (or revelation) to the Gentiles of Jesus as Savior. It is an ancient feast. It is known to have been observed earlier than 194 AD, and is therefore older than the celebration of Christmas.

Let's start with a question many are asking. Is Epiphany - Friday, Jan. 6, 2012 - a Holy Day of Obligation? Fr. John Zuhlsdorf explains in very clear terms.

Manifestation of Christ to the World

We celebrate this Sunday the Epiphany of the Lord —by which we mean the Manifestation of Christ to the World. But just who were the Three Kings? Dr. Marcellino D'Ambrosio reveals just who they really were.

Fr. Alex McAllister SDS explains how Matthew in his Gospel presents us with two contrasting approaches. God reveals himself through the Scriptures and in the words of the Prophets to the People of Israel but He also reveals himself through natural phenomena such as the star the wise men followed. So the good news of Epiphany, Fr. Campion P. Gavaler, O.S.B. points out, is that Jesus is the revelation of God as one who offers Himself to us in love. Jesus is the epiphany of the invisible God in all the events of His life: as a helpless child lying in a manger, as a young man dying on the cross -- the ultimate revelation that God's glory is love.

But if we read the story carefully, we realize that far from being a children's tale, it is a tragic adult story. Fr. Thomas Rosica, CSB says the battle lines are drawn and the forces are being marshaled. A child is born at the same time as a death-dealing power rules. It is a classic story about innocence in the midst of evil, innocence betrayed by those who should have cared. And Fr. John Foley, S. J. elaborates more.

Bearing and Accepting Gifts

The Magi Kings met the baby Jesus. And then they gave Him their greatest gifts. Fr. Phil Bloom reflects the significance of the bearing and giving of these gifts. Paul Dion, STL explains further that by giving gifts, they came to know His reason for being better. He gets the intuition that this is a way that God has of revealing Himself to us. By giving gifts, they came to know Him better.

Fr. James Gilhooley reminds us that we too owe Jesus a gift. But what gifts? Fr. John J. Ludvik suggests the gift of love to honor the King. Or why not adopt this platform - find the lost, the hungry, the broken, and the sorrowful? Fr. Joseph Pellegrino says Jesus may be in our caring for a sick spouse or relative. He may be in the outcast who reach out for us. He is in all these and countless more places. If we are wise, we will spend our lives seeking Him out, wherever He is.

Living the Epiphany Story

Epiphany is about power and what power we worship. There is the power of the word of God. There is the power of kingdoms, territories and comfort zones. There is the power of the child of the Star who comes to liberate and free. There is the power of worship and pilgrimage in search of the truth. Fr. Orly Sapuay, MS challenges us with this question: What powers do we serve?

This was not lost among the early Christians. The ancient "way" of Christian life is repentance and belief in the Gospel, practically and profoundly realized in the sacramental life. Father Cusick emphasizes that the sacraments are the "Epiphany" or manifestation of the Lord for every human being. In the sacraments the whole "glory" of Christ "shines out" so that all nations may fall down in praise before the Lord.

And now that that the Feast of the Epiphany has closed the season of Christmastide, Benedict Rimando, M.J. reminds us all that it is time to put it into practice the message brought to us by Jesus in His expression of mission. The holidays are over! The work of Christmas begins. We end several weeks of holidays, vacation and feasting. Daniel Bean asks the question: How's your transition going?

Personal "Epiphany" Moments

Many times in our lives, we get a thud in our head, a stirring in our heart, an unexpected "Aha!" moment. We call them epiphanies. We share three such stories like that this week. First Marion Fernandez-Cueto relates how opening your hands can open your heart. She shares this in "What I Learned at the Stoplight." Then Bo Sanchez talks about the blessed moment when he learned this important lesson: "Stop Trying To Fix People."

And third, we bring you the story of actor Gary Graham. He had been a participant in three abortions in his life - even paying for their costs - until his own Epiphany moment. Now he condemns what he calls a woman’s “Right to Choose…to Kill Her Baby.” And he did this despite knowing that by writing about his personal experience and rejection of abortion, he would be incurring the ire of not a few among the Hollywood elite.

Mystery, Conversion, Sabbath and Praying to Saints

In the secular world a “mystery” is something which baffles or eludes understanding, something which lies undisclosed. And the usual attitude of the world toward mystery is to resolve it, get to the bottom of, or uncover it. Msgr. Charles Pope explains that in the Christian and especially the Catholic world, “mystery” is something a bit different.

From the Washington Post, we get the conversion story of columnist Bob Arscott. Before he converted to Catholicism, he believed his life was the way it was supposed to be. Converting to Catholicism, he explains here, was a challenging but rewarding decision.

And Taylor Marshall answers two Catrechetical question. First is a question from a Protestant reader who asks why Catholics have to ask saints to pray for them. He offers his usual solid defense from perspective of both the Bible and Traditions. Next is a question: "May Catholics work on Sundays?" Great Catechesis can be found here.

In closing, here's an intereasting look at the most common grocery labels: Enriched and Fortified, Gluten Free, Local, Trans Fat, Zero Calories, etc. We tell you what they mean and when they matter.

Another eventful week in our Catholic World. Have a great and blessed new week.

Keep the Faith. Peace.

Wally Arida
Publisher & Editor in chief


BURNING QUESTION: Why don't we invoke saints from the Old Testament?
FEATURED BLOG: Why Do We Ask Saints to Pray for Us?
PASTORAL HISPANA: La Epifania es la fiesta que nos hace orgullosos de ser Catolicos


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