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There’s a theme of “movement” in today’s scripture reading that I think it important neither to overlook nor underestimate. In the first reading from the prophet Isaiah, there’s the movement of “rising up,” of “walking,” and of “raising your eyes and looking about.” In the gospel, there’s movement “from” and “to.” There’s movement of “going” and of “coming.” There’s movement of “looking up” and “looking down.” There’s the movement of “arriving” and of “departing.” There’s also the movement of “standing” and “kneeling.” And, there’s the movement of “receiving” and of “giving.” Have you ever considered all of that movement after hearing the scripture readings on the Solemnity of the Epiphany of the Lord? To tell you the truth: I never have. That is, until I was thinking about two events this past week. I was thinking of the more than one million revelers in New York’s Times Square yesterday on New Year’s Eve. Most had left home very early in the day in order to get to their place in Times Square. Then, those people had to remain in their places all day, not able to leave until after the crystal ball dropped at midnight. If anyone did leave his or her place, police would escort that individual away from Times Square. So, the movement of all those revelers was rather restricted, no? And, that was okay for many of them because what they are going to get out of the experience is very important to them, no? I was also considering all of those thousands of people who were trapped this past week in New York’s airports following last week’s snow storm. They were pretty happy and eager when they “left” home and “travelled” to their relatives for Christmas. But, they weren’t so happy when they couldn’t “come” and “go” as they wanted, some for three and four days, stranded in the airport as they were. Their movement was also pretty restricted, no? And, they didn’t much like it either, no? In contrast to all of those revelers and people stuck in the airport and perhaps for us, too, one important but much overlooked aspect of all of the movement in today’s scripture readings was that it was purposeful. That is, people engaged in all of that movement in order to discover something they believe was extremely important for them and their lives: the fulfillment of all the yearnings deep in their hearts. All of that movement was spiritual, that is, directed toward God, with the purpose of seeing God manifest himself. For the prophet Isaiah, the people of Israel longed for and wanted to see the glory of God shine upon them. When they did, Isaiah said, you will “be radiant at what you see, your hearts throbbing and overflowing.” All nations and all peoples would move with the purpose of returning to the Promised Land so that they could proclaim the Lord’s praises for all the good which God has done for them. All of that purposeful movement was so that people—just like you and me—could give something of themselves to God. They didn’t come streaming to get but to give. The Magi also longed for and wanted to see the glory of God shine upon them. This required searching diligently for a child in Bethlehem, God’s only begotten son in the flesh. The purpose of all their movement—from east to west, during night and day—was to discover what God had offered humanity. All of this purposeful movement was spiritual, too, so that the Magi—and people just like you and me—could give something of themselves to God. They also didn’t come traveling all that way to get, but to give. This concept of movement contrasts with our culture and, in fact, much of the movement of our own lives. Like those people who were trapped in New York’s Times Square on New Year’s Eve or in the airports following last week’s snow storm, we also “rise up” and we also “walk,” we also “raise our eyes” and we also “look about.” We move “from” and “to,” only to “come” and “go.” We “look up” and we look “down.” We “arrive” and we “depart.” For many of us, however, most of this movement differs in one significant way from that of the people of Israel as well as the Magi: Much of our movement is in order to “receive” rather than to “give.” It’s all about what we will “take” and has very little to do with we will “bring.” The Solemnity of the Epiphany of the Lord is about contemplating the movement of the people of Israel as well as of the Magi and, as we do, remembering the very special movement of seeing what God has already given us and asking ourselves, “What am I bringing to God?” Taking a cue from our culture, many of us sit here in church ruminating about such things as “I’m not getting anything out of this…” and “What a waste of time....” We may read the bulletin or think about our “to do” list. We do see our watches counting down the time until, hopefully, Mass will be over and we can move on to other more, interesting and perhaps important things…like taking down and stowing away the Christmas decorations for next year. But, we don’t see the glory of the Lord shining upon us. We don’t see the God made human. Yes, let me be the first to say that not every Mass is likely to enrapture each and every one of us. But, that has more to do with us than with the liturgy because at each and every Mass, God has already blessed us, that is, if we come to see the glory of the Lord being revealed, as did the people of Israel and the Magi in Bethlehem. God has already given us His word in Scripture and God will be giving us His divine life in the Eucharist. The Solemnity of the Epiphany of the Lord reminds us that our movement from home to church is about coming to see these gifts for what they are and, yes, to receive them with grateful hearts. Yet, the Solemnity of the Epiphany of the Lord is also about something much more significant, which we more oftentimes than not neglect: the movement of “giving” rather than “receiving.” The question today’s Solemnity raises and which each of us needs to answer is: “So, what have I come here today to give?” Fr. Timothy Finigan put together the following reflection which answers this question by means of a reduction ad absurdum (an argument which demonstrates the invalidity of the premise by reducing it to its logical, but absurd conclusion). Fr. Finigan writes: I am heartily sick of the protest “I don’t go to Mass because my parents forced me to go when I was young.” Okay, then, what else did your parents force you to do? Your parents forced you to wash before you went out in the morning. Those cruel tyrants made sure that you cleaned your teeth before you went to bed. They dragged you kicking and screaming to school so that you could learn to read—and the teachers collaborated by forcing you to learn the alphabet and put the words together. To top it all, after looking after your physical needs, your parents had the temerity to exercise their authority by looking after your spiritual needs and taking you to Mass on Sunday. If they had neglected to see that you were clean, had suitable clothes, ate some sort of nourishing food, got some education, and crossed the road safely, then they would have been visited by social services and compelled to follow a plan of care so that you would be healthy and safe.
So, you are complaining because your parents took responsibility for
your eternal life? Fr. Finigan then continues:
In this context, it is relevant to quote again the classic: 1. I was forced to as a child. 2. People who wash are hypocrites—they think they are cleaner than everybody else. 3. There are so many different kinds of soap, I can’t decide which one is best. 4. I used to wash, but I got bored and stopped. 5. I wash only on special occasions, like Christmas and Easter. 6. None of my friends wash. 7. I’ll start washing when I get older and dirtier. 8. I can’t spare the time. 9. The bathroom is never warm enough in winter or cool enough in summer.
10. People who make soap are only after your money. The point Fr. Finigan makes isn’t one aimed solely at those people who don’t go to Mass. No, Fr. Finigan’s point is also aimed at those of us who do come to Mass, but come with the wrong attitude, namely, we come “to receive” and not “to give” and so, we leave full of complaints because we don’t get what we want. The theme of “movement” in today’s scripture reminds us that the gifts which people of Israel brought to the mountain of the Lord and which the Magi brought to Bethlehem were symbols revealing something important: They also symbolized what the people of Israel and the three Magi believed God meant to them. In the same way, our movement from home and to Mass as well as the gifts we bring to Mass and give to God—or don’t give—symbolize exactly what God means to each of us in our lives.
A brief
commercial break... As Catholics, one way to celebrate the Christmas season can also serve as a great catechetical tool. The popular song "The Twelve Days of Christmas" is usually viewed as simply a nonsense song for children with secular origins. However, some have suggested that it is a song of catechesis , perhaps dating to the 16th century religious wars in England, with hidden references to the basic teachings of the Catholic faith. As such, the song provided a mnemonic device to teach the catechism to young people. The "true love" mentioned in the song is not an earthly suitor, but refers to God Himself. The "me" who receives the presents refers to every baptized person who is part of the Catholic faith. Each of the "days" represents some aspect of the Catholic faith that was important for young people to learn...not only during the Reformation era but today, too! So, here's how to do this: Assign each of the 12 days to family members. Then, each evening as the family gathers for dinner, sing the appropriate verse(s) for the day. After singing the verse, have the family member assigned to that day describe the symbol and its religious significance. Praying the devotional for each day reinforces the symbol and its meaning. As the 12 days continue and the number of catechetical lessons increase, have different family members recall the meaning of each symbol. (I have borrowed what follows from Dennis Bratcher's website, "The Twelve Days of Christmas.)
(Click on each picture below to go to a devotional for that day)
On the 1st day of Christmas my true love gave to me...
A Partridge in a Pear Tree The partridge in a pear tree is Jesus the Christ, the Son of God, whose birthday we celebrate on December 25, the first day of Christmas. In the song, Christ is symbolically presented as a mother partridge that feigns injury to decoy predators from her helpless nestlings, recalling the expression of Christ's sadness over the fate of Jerusalem: "Jerusalem! Jerusalem! How often would I have sheltered you under my wings, as a hen does her chicks, but you would not have it so . . . ." (Luke 13:34)
On the 2nd day of Christmas my true love gave to me...
Two Turtle Doves The Old and New Testaments, which together bear witness to God's self-revelation in history and the creation of a people to tell the Story of God to the world.
On the 3rd day of Christmas my true love gave to me...
Three French Hens The Three Theological Virtues: 1) Faith, 2) Hope, and 3) Love (1 Corinthians 13:13)
On the 4th day of Christmas my true love gave to me...
Four Calling Birds The Four Gospels: 1) Matthew, 2) Mark, 3) Luke, and 4) John, which proclaim the Good News of God's reconciliation of the world to Himself in Jesus Christ.
On the 5th day of Christmas my true love gave to me...
Five Gold Rings The first Five Books of the Old Testament, known as the Torah or the Pentateuch: 1) Genesis, 2) Exodus, 3) Leviticus, 4) Numbers, and 5) Deuteronomy, which gives the history of humanity's sinful failure and God's response of grace in the creation of a people to be a light to the world.
On the 6th day of Christmas my true love gave to me...
Six Geese A-Laying The six days of creation that confesses God as Creator and Sustainer of the world (Genesis 1).
On the 7th day of Christmas my true love gave to me...
Seven Swans A-Swimming The seven gifts of the Holy Spirit: 1) prophecy, 2) ministry, 3) teaching, 4) exhortation, 5) giving, 6) leading, and 7) compassion (Romans 12:6-8; cf. 1 Corinthians 12:8-11)
On the 8th day of Christmas my true love gave to me...
Eight Maids A-Milking The eight Beatitudes: 1) Blessed are the poor in spirit, 2) those who mourn, 3) the meek, 4) those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, 5) the merciful, 6) the pure in heart, 7) the peacemakers, 8) those who are persecuted for righteousness' sake. (Matthew 5:3-10)
On the 9th day of Christmas my true love gave to me...
Nine Ladies Dancing The nine Fruit of the Holy Spirit: 1) love, 2) joy, 3) peace, 4) patience, 5) kindness, 6) generosity, 7) faithfulness, 8) gentleness, and 9) self-control. (Galatians 5:22)
On the 10th day of Christmas my true love gave to me...
Ten Lords A-Leaping The ten commandments: 1) You shall have no other gods before me; 2) Do not make an idol; 3) Do not take God's name in vain; 4) Remember the Sabbath Day; 5) Honor your father and mother; 6) Do not murder; 7) Do not commit adultery; 8) Do not steal; 9) Do not bear false witness; 10) Do not covet. (Exodus 20:1-17)
On the 11th day of Christmas my true love gave to me...
Eleven Pipers Piping The eleven Faithful Apostles: 1) Simon Peter, 2) Andrew, 3) James, 4) John, 5) Philip, 6) Bartholomew, 7) Matthew, 8) Thomas, 9) James bar Alphaeus, 10) Simon the Zealot, 11) Judas bar James. (Luke 6:14-16). The list does not include the twelfth disciple, Judas Iscariot who betrayed Jesus to the religious leaders and the Romans.
On the 12th day of Christmas my true love gave to me...
Twelve Drummers Drumming The twelve points of doctrine in the Apostles' Creed: 1) I believe in God, the Father almighty, creator of heaven and earth. 2) I believe in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord. 3) He was conceived by the power of the Holy Spirit and born of the virgin Mary. 4) He suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died, and was buried. He descended into hell [the grave]. 5) On the third day he rose again. He ascended into heaven, and is seated at the right hand of the Father. 6) He will come again to judge the living and the dead. 7) I believe in the Holy Spirit, 8) the holy catholic Church, 9) the communion of saints, 10) the forgiveness of sins, 11) the resurrection of the body, 12) and life everlasting.
Epiphany, January 6 (celebrated in the United States on Sunday, January 2)
Participating in this catechetical activity during the Twelve Days of Christmas, the entire family can learn about and recall the basic elements of the Catholic faith.
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HOMILY
