On the Feast of the Epiphany of Our Lord, the Church brings to fulfillment the Advent/Christmas Seasons. Liturgically, the Church proclaims that the Child in the Crib of Bethlehem is the Messiah, the Son of God. The word epiphany comes from the Greek word meaning, a manifestation of divinity.   
   
    Today's Gospel tells us that the Three Magi came to “pay homage” to the newborn king.  This is an epiphany/ manifestation that the Christ Child is the promised Redeemer.  It is the first of three major Gospel events that the Church uses to illustrate this fact. 
   
    In the First Reading of the Mass, the prophet Isaiah tells us: "Rise up in splendor, Jerusalem!  Your light has come . . . See, darkness covers the earth . . . but upon you the Lord shines."  Jesus Christ is "the Light of the World." He illumines a world filled with the darkness of sin and brings us to the Father’s wonderful light.   
   
    The Alleluia Verse proclaims: "We have seen His star in the east and have come to do Him homage.  We too see His star today and every day through the saving mystery of the Roman Catholic Church.  It is through His Church that we find the Lord.   As the Wise Men followed the Star of Bethlehem to find the Child, we follow the teachings of the Catholic Church that lead us safely to Jesus.  The Catholic Church shows us the way to the Kingdom of Heaven where we will adore Jesus, the Lamb of God, for all eternity.     
   
    Sunday, January 9, 2005, the liturgy gives us the second epiphany/ manifestation - - - the Baptism of the Lord.  As Jesus emerges from the baptismal waters, God the Father identifies Jesus as the Messiah: "This is my beloved Son!  Hear Him!" This means that we must follow the teachings of Jesus Christ if we are to be His true followers.

    At every Mass, the Priest lifts high the Host and repeats the words of John the Baptist: "Behold the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world." Our Lord's mission was the Redemption!  This is the reason that He was born. Jesus did not come as a political, social or economic reformer.  If mankind would indeed follow His Gospel, all of the world’s social evils would come to an immediate end.  The Messiah, however, came to save us from the dominion of Satan, the slavery to sin and the punishment of eternal death.  Jesus Christ is the Messiah, the Son of God. He is true God and true Man.  He is Emmanuel, God with us!

    The third epiphany/manifestation does not appear in this year’s cycle of readings.  It is the wonderful story of the Wedding Feast of Cana.  At Cana, the God/Man, because of the intercession of His mother, Mary, turns water into the finest of wines.  Jesus Christ is Our Lord and Savior!  He is our God!  Let us make our own the words of the Centurion on Calvary: “Truly this Man is the Son of God! 

    I hope that all of you had a wonderful Christmas and that you and your families will have a Blessed New Year in Christ Jesus.