Sunday:       Epiphany
Date:         January 2, 2000  
Year:         B
The readings: [Is. 60:1-6; Eph. 3:2-3, 5-6; Mt. 2:1-12]
The message:  Overwhelmed with joy.
Prepared by:  CATHOLIC DOORS MINISTRY
Total words:  1104

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Good morning to all of you! It is hard to believe that just two days ago, we were living in the last century. A week ago, we celebrated Christmas, the arrival of Jesus in the world. And then, on New Year's Eve, we jumped from one century to another to enter the third millennium. I am sure that many of you celebrated your entry into the new century with joy and peace, hoping that your joy and peace shall continue for years to come.

Reviewing today's three readings from the Holy Bible, we can relate to them because of the personal experience that we enjoyed during the last week.

In the First Reading, we heard of the joy of the Israelites who were finally allowed to return to Jerusalem after years of captivity.

In the Second Reading, we heard of the joy of the Gentiles who were now invited into Christianity to become fellow heirs to the Kingdom of God.

In the Third Reading, we heard of the joy of the three wise men when, after following the shining star in the sky, they found the home where the Child Jesus lived.

The first reading began with the words, "Arise, shine, for your light has come, and the glory of the Lord has risen upon us!" These prophetic words echo the arrival of Baby Jesus that we just celebrated a week ago. Excited, we all rose, shined with joy, and went to Church for the celebration of the Holy Mass on Christmas Day to be with Jesus. Indeed, the glory of the Lord has risen upon us.

This year, we are experiencing the glory of the Lord even more than in previous years because we are celebrating Jubilee 2000. The Holy Catholic Church has prepared itself for three years for this special year. In each of the past three years, the faithful honoured one of the three Divine Presences of the Holy Trinity. This year, we are honouring the Holy Trinity, the fullness of God. Therefore, we have great joy in our hearts. As the Israelites rejoiced with songs when they reached Jerusalem, we rejoice with songs because we have finally reached the New Millennium and Jubilee 2,000.

Today's Second Reading tells us that had God's grace not been given to us through St. Paul, we as Gentiles, would not qualify to be fellow heirs as members of the Body of Christ and sharers in the promise of Jesus through the Gospel.

For until the moment when it was revealed to St. Paul, the Gentiles had been set apart from God's people. The promises of God that were made to the prophets of the Old Testament excluded all the nations except the Jewish people, God's chosen people. Therefore, as the great prophet Isaiah rejoiced with the people when they reached Jerusalem, the City of God, we also rejoice because through the Sacrament of Baptism, we entered the Body of Christ as spiritual members of the Kingdom of God.

The reading of today's Gospel is one of the best told stories among Christians. Children love to hear it over and over. It tells us of the three wise men, often referred to as the "Three Kings," who followed a star in heaven until it led them to where Jesus was. When they finally found Jesus, they were overwhelmed with joy. Being blessed by God with this great honour of being before Jesus, they looked down at this little Child and knew in their minds that one day, He would redeem the world as the King of kings. While the three wise men may have had a thousand questions on their mind to ask Jesus as to how this would be achieved, they could not ask one. Why? Because Jesus was still a little Child. So all they could do was stare at Jesus, prostrate before Him, adore Him, be overwhelmed with joy at the great knowledge that they had regarding the Child Jesus.

Today's three readings hold a second message that is not so obvious but yet, it is still there. The message is that even thought there may be opposition in life, the joy of Christ is still within you.

The Israelites faced persecution with the rebuilding of Jerusalem. When they began to rebuild the walls, some of the men worked while others stood on guard.

When St. Paul converted the Gentiles, it was not an easy task. The Gentiles knew that if they became Christians, they would be persecuted and even be put to death by the Roman soldiers. Before converting to the Christian faith, the Gentiles had to be sure beyond any doubt that by dying for their living faith, they would gain their eternal joy.

Even the three wise men found opposition. When they were told in their dream that King Herod wanted to kill Jesus, they had to return to their country by another road. Surely, they must have known of the fear of King Herod that one day, maybe Jesus would take over his throne. But to oppose a King is to call upon his wrath. The three wise men surely had to move about fast and hope that they would not be found until they were out of King Herod's jurisdiction - on safe land.

In our lives, it is the same. We face opposition, some more than others. We may face opposition from those who are non- Catholics and who ridicule our living faith in Christ. We may face opposition from our loved ones who do not appreciate the greatness of the mystery of the living faith. And sometimes, we even face opposition from our human nature that opposes our spiritual willingness to serve God. Caught between the desires and pleasures of the worldly ways versus the eternal fulfillment of the promises that faith, hope and charity deliver, we are in constant battle within ourselves.

But, even among our oppositions, by the grace of God the Father and the power of the Holy Spirit, we are still overwhelmed with joy in Jesus as those of the past were overwhelmed with joy. While we may relapse from time to time, we know that we can count on our brothers and sisters in Christ to help us rise again to enjoy the fullness of our joy. We know that through Jesus' gift of the Church Sacraments, we receive our undeserved righteousness through the love and mercy of God the Father.

My brothers and sisters, this week, we should reflect on the infinite love and mercy of God. For it is by His grace that we freely receive it to be overwhelmed in joy through our Lord Jesus Christ.

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The readings...

[The readings were taken from the New Revised Standard Version of the Bible (C) 1989 Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Church of Christ in the United States of America.]

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First Reading...

"Arise, shine, for your light has come, and the glory of the Lord has risen upon you! For darkness shall cover the earth, and thick darkness the peoples; but the lord will arise upon you, and his glory will appear over you.

Nations shall come to your light, and kings to the brightness of your dawn. Lift up your eyes and look around; they all gather together, they come to you; your sons shall come from far away, and your daughters shall be carried on their nurses' arms. Then you shall see and be radiant; your heart shall thrill and rejoice, because the abundance of the sea shall be brought to you, the wealth of the nations shall come to you. A multitude of camels shall cover you, the young camels of Midain and Ephah, all those from Sheba shall come. They shall bring gold and frankincense, and shall proclaim the praise of the Lord." [Is. 60:1-6]

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Second Reading...

"Surely you have already heard of the commission of God's grace that was given for you, and how the mystery was made known to me by revelation.

In former generations this mystery was not made known to humanity as it has now been revealed to his holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit; that is, the Gentiles have become fellow heirs, members of the same body, and sharers in the promise in Christ Jesus through the gospel." [Eph. 3:2-3, 5-6]

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Gospel Reading...

In the time of King Herod, after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea, wise men from the East came to Jerusalem, asking, 'Where is the child who has been born king of the Jews? For we observed his star at its rising, and have come to pay him homage.'

When King Herod heard this, he was frightened, and all Jerusalem with him; and calling together all the chief priests and scribes of the people, he inquired of them where the Messiah was to be born. They told him, 'In Bethlehem of Judea; for so it has been written by the prophet: 'And you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, are by no means least among the rulers of Judah; for from you shall come a ruler who is to shepherd my people Israel.'

Then Herod secretly called for the wise men and learned from them the exact time when the star had appeared. Then he sent them to Bethlehem, saying, 'Go and search diligently for the child; and when you have found him, bring me word so that I may also go and pay him homage.'

When they had heard the king, they set out; and there, ahead of them, went the star that they had seen at its rising, until it stopped over the place where the child was. When they saw that the star had stopped, they were overwhelmed with joy.

On entering the house, they saw the child with Mary his mother; and they knelt down and paid him homage. Then, opening their treasure chests, they offered him gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh.

And having been warned in a dream not to return to Herod, they left for their own country by another road. [Mt. 2:1-12]

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