Dear Parishioners:
G. K Chesterton wrote an essay about the Three Wise Men - modernized Wise Men. They came to the great city of peace which they deeply yearned to enter. They knew of course there were certain conditions of passing into that blessed Bethlehem.
The first brought gold - cold and yellow - which buys most of earth's pleasures. The second brought not frankincense, but the modern science of scent, chemistry, with its power to drugging the natural consciousness, controlling the soil of the earth, and the surplus population. The third brought myrrh, which symbolized death; it was a fissioned atom which could turn any city which opposed peace into a Hiroshima of destruction.
They met Joseph at the gate of the palace of Peace. Joseph examined their gifts and refused them entrance. They asked, "What could we possibly need yet to assure peace other than that which buys affluence, controls nature, and blacks out the enemies of peace?"
Joseph whispered in the ear of one what he had forgotten. He whispered in the ears of the other two, and they went away sad.
They had forgotten the Child (Quoted by F.J. Sheen).
Each of us has a serious obligation to epiphanize (I feel like a sports commentator who makes up verbs out of nouns) the Lord Jesus. We have to make Him known to others. We do this by our words and our deeds. We have to be the Wise Men of today.
They traveled to a foreign land guided by a star. We go to familiar places, work, school, market, etc. We, not guided by a star, stand under the garish lights of neon and tinsel. We are, however, guided by the Maker of the star. We are guided by Holiness Himself.
We do not have to walk in doubt about Him any more. We possess the truth, and the Light of the world gives you His love to strengthen our weak hearts. We can offer Him the gifts he has already given to us - our laughter, intelligence, gentleness, persuasiveness, understanding, etc. - to make Him known.
Let us not waste time trying to figure out just how to do this. Speak up! Speak out! In the job, market, school, etc. We must be bold and daring without being obnoxious or offensive. We speak up and out with love and concern for the other. God wants to do great things in this world of His. He wants to use you and me.
Let us epiphanize the Lord Jesus. Let us make Him known. If not us, then who will God use? We are His body here on earth. Let Him use us.
God bless,
Fr. Bill
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