Jan 6th
Post date: Jan 07, 2019 6:9:49 PM
January 6, 2019 (Epiphany) Homily by Fr. Karl Schray
In the 17th century, writer John Donne wrote this parable:
A man decides that God must live on the top of the highest mountain
at the farthest end of the world. So, he sets out to find God and travels
a most difficult, dangerous journey. Finally, he comes to the mountain—
it is way higher and steeper than he imagined
but he really wants to find God—so he starts up one side of the mountain.
Meanwhile, God who does indeed live on top of the mountain, thinks
“I love my people so much. How can I show them my great love?”
God decides he will descend the mountain and live among his people
as one of them. So, God descends the mountain, but
unfortunately, the man and God are on opposite sides of the mountain.
When the man reaches the top, he is discouraged
because God is not there—and starts to doubt that God exists at all.
After hanging his head in dismay, he asks himself
why should I journey back down the mountain? There is no one there but
poor, selfish people; it would be better to live on the mountain top alone.
God does not live on mountain tops or at the ends of the earth!
God dwells among his people.
That is where we must look for him; that is where we will find him.
Like the man in the parable, we want to be assured of God’s presence.
That’s why our LORD gave us sacraments. Sacraments are
the sign of the sacred, the physical experience of a spiritual reality.
When you think of the Sacraments—think Jesus! Jesus finding you.
The Father embracing you. The Holy Spirit coming to dwell in you.
The people among whom God chose to live were not a select,
exclusive group.
Just as Mary, Joseph and the shepherds were the Jewish believers who
welcomed the Savior,
so, the wise men were the Gentiles who responded in faith and action.
In time, the wise men were pictured as a Caucasian, an Asian, and a dark-
skinned African. In so doing, they represented all peoples of the world.
The Magi followed the star, the light.
What is the light that God wants to show us now?
It is sacrificial love, forgiveness, humility, respect, justice and peace.
Christ appeared to the world as a light shining in the darkness.
Follow him in Faith and be a Light to others.
The Magi saw the star only because they were not afraid to travel in the dark. The fact is, we cannot see the stars in the bright light of day,
but only in the darkness of night.
And the darker the night, the brighter they shine.
In a sense, we are all night-time travelers. We are pilgrims thru difficulties.
But we no longer need to fear the darkness, the challenges. Because with the coming of Christ, a Light has come into the world, A light no darkness can overpower.
A teacher asked her students this question, “How can we determine the hour of dawn—when the night ends and day begins?” One student replied, ‘When, from a distance, you can distinguish between a sheep and a dog.’ No, said the teacher. Another student offered, ‘When you can tell a fig tree from a grapevine.’ No, repeated the teacher. Then tell us please said the students. She said, “Darkness ends, and day begins when you can look into the faces of all other human beings, and you have enough light
in you, to recognize them as your brothers and sisters.”