What is separated in time and space
can be joined in consciousness, in the mind. And what is joined in consciousness is separated into stories to
communicate meaning. The reality of
Christ, the presence of God-in-man, is the truth of humanity. We celebrate this reality in every Eucharist. For the sake of our understanding, we
separate reality into parts. And so at
Christmastide, the mystery of God in us, of incarnation, is separated into two
inseparable realities: the birth of
Jesus Christ, and then the Epiphany of Christ to the Gentiles. Even children can appreciate the parts, and
can be nourished by reflecting on them.
Our adult task is to bring the parts back together in the truth of
consciousness and action: God in Christ
is one. Christ brings the genuine
believer into a living contact with God.
You may have noticed over the years
that the evangelist Luke has no need for the feast of the Epiphany, because he
has the equivalent experience take place in the scene he sets for Jesus’
birth. No Magi or astrologers are
mentioned coming to see what God has done for humankind, but lowly shepherds,
the “poorest of the poor,” representing all those who are open to what God is
doing here and now, with minds not limited to beliefs about past events. The shepherds live in the present of God,
under God, and so are moved by God to find His Presence in the new-born
Christ. Open to God, we behold God by
faith in Jesus. The evangelist Matthew
has a different tale to tell, and wants to emphasize that Christ has come for
all peoples (as the angels announce in Luke’s Gospel), and so has the Gentiles
represented by three men, attuned to heavenly signs, journeying from the
East. That the Magi recognize the divine
Presence in the baby Jesus is artfully symbolized by their gifts, as described
in our familiar Christmas carol, “We three kings”: incense pointing to divinity present; gold
witnessing to the true ruler of humankind; myrrh foreshadowing the saving death
of Christ for all.
From beautiful stories and rich
symbolic meanings one needs to return again and again to the truth of spiritual
experience: This is done best by sitting
still in quiet meditation. For our
foremost goal is not to tell stories or to “spread the word,” but to
grow into a deeper and more lasting union with the God present to the
consciousness of every human being open to receive him. Genuine openness is a demanding spiritual
work, requiring prayer, study, recollection, meditation, action, love. That many refuse God’s gift of presence is
symbolized by Matthew’s bloody story of the slaughter of infants in Bethlehem,
ordered by the wicked Herod, a shrunken soul jealous for his own power. We may have obstacles in our hearts and lives
that prevent us from living in the truth of divine Presence. And so our task includes reflecting on
habitual and actual ways in which we fail to respond wholeheartedly, or let our
awareness of God shining into our minds be obscured by the smoke of worldly
preoccupations. The task of openness to
the divine light shining into consciousness is endless. The essential activity is silent meditation,
and many of us are too busy to sit still.
The reality of Epiphany is now—for you,
for me. Our Christian and human duty is
to enkindle in our hearts a flame of the fire of God’s love, which means
allowing his love to flood in. What good
is it for us to celebrate the birth of the baby Jesus, as we did on Christmas,
and refuse to live in the light shining in?
We live in the light by letting it enlighten us in meditation and
wonder. If God is not here, then where
could he be sought? The stable and the
manger in Bethlehem are gone, or just rebuilt monuments to what God has
done. But God is here and now; living in
his light, love, peace is indeed the constant gift and burden of our lives.
Blessed New Year to each and to all.
