Are you seeing differently yet?
Has your vision been altered by the Incarnation? The Feast of the Epiphany, which we celebrate
this Sunday, is a celebration of the ways God's revelation can alter human
vision. The prophet Isaiah calls the
people to raise their eyes and look about: God is working in new and surprising ways in
their midst! Their renewed ability to
see (differently) is a revelation; they shall
be radiant at what they see, for this new capacity for vision
causes them to rethink their idea of God.
Likewise, Psalm 72 chronicles the many ways King Solomon was called to
remain open to God's revelation, so that he could be filled with wisdom, the
source of judgment and of the justice that characterized the beginning of his reign.
The magi from the east
who seek the newborn king of the Jews
in Matthew's Gospel do so because they have a particular vision: they were the scientists of their day,
astrologers, considered to have the divine gift of sight that enabled them to
read the heavens. Seeing the star is
enough to make them leave their homes and travel a great distance to seek not
just another king, not just a great king, but the divine Jesus himself. Their long journey parallels our own: our journey to see Jesus in our lives is not
a one-day affair, but a lifelong voyage toward the unknown. Paul tells the Ephesians that the mystery was made know to him by revelation; it is now revealed and that revelation is meant
for all; all are coheirs and
copartners in the promise in Christ Jesus.
The Epiphany's revelation is not just that Jesus Christ has
been born, but that he lived, died, and rose, embracing our humanity and taking
it to death, that that humanity might be transformed by resurrection. Wise men and women lead us to Jesus; we see if we are open to the light of God's
revelation of the power of Jesus' life, death, and resurrection in our lives, and
if we allow that light to transform our vision.
May your sight be altered, your vision cleared,
by the
revelation of God's light at the Feast of the Epiphany!
This post was based on Fr. Pat's Scripture class.
Image source: Wordle
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