Rejoice! Today is your feast, because today the gentiles experienced salvation.\u00c2\u00a0 You are all members of the Kingdom of God.\u00c2\u00a0 Or are you?\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0 Before you answer, consider this quote from St. Augustine:<\/p>\n
\u00c2\u00a0“What we see, then, is that two societies have issued from two kinds of love. \u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0Worldly society has flowered from a selfish love which dared to despise even God; whereas the communion of saints is rooted in a love of God that is ready to trample on self.\u00c2\u00a0 \u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0In a word, this latter relies on the Lord; whereas the other boasts that it can get along by itself. \u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0The city of man seeks the praise of men; whereas the height of glory for the other is to hear God in the witness of conscience [City of God XIV.28]”. \u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0<\/p>\n
So, perhaps a better question is this:\u00c2\u00a0 Which of the two societies do you belong to, the city of Man, or the City of God?\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0<\/p>\n
The Gospel story today talks about the contrast between people in these two societies at the time of Christ’s birth.\u00c2\u00a0 The Magi dedicated time, effort, and their treasure to finding Christ and paying Him homage.\u00c2\u00a0 They were educated men, probably from ancient Babylon- scientists, who followed the signs, not knowing where they would take them, but determined to find the newborn King of the Jews. \u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0When the going got rough, and they lost sight of the Star, they kept their cool, they kept their faith, and they kept sight of their goal. \u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0They were humble men, not thinking of themselves.\u00c2\u00a0 So, they asked for help, and were sent to Bethlehem, only to discover the return of the star, validating their action.\u00c2\u00a0 When they saw the Christ Child, they paid him homage, and they left precious gifts.\u00c2\u00a0 These men then returned, anxious to share their joy with their own countrymen and decided not to report back to Herod.\u00c2\u00a0 The Magi were not Jews- they were Gentiles.\u00c2\u00a0 They fulfilled the promise and the prophesy in the First Reading, a promise that the salvation brought by Christ would be shared with all people.<\/p>\n
Contrast the Magi with Herod and the leaders in Jerusalem.\u00c2\u00a0 When apprised of the Magi’s mission, Herod checked with the authorities to find out where the Messiah would be born.\u00c2\u00a0 He was told in Bethlehem, and passed that on.\u00c2\u00a0 But Herod was not happy with the idea of a new King.\u00c2\u00a0 He was trembling with fear.\u00c2\u00a0 Herod, and his cohorts, were in control.\u00c2\u00a0 They didn’t want a King; they didn’t want a Messiah.\u00c2\u00a0 They were capable of getting along themselves.\u00c2\u00a0 And so, Herod cunningly tried to get the Magi to help him.\u00c2\u00a0 He wanted the Magi to report back if they found the child so he could destroy his competition.\u00c2\u00a0 The proof of this is the slaughter of the Holy Innocents ordered by Herod.\u00c2\u00a0 Herod and the leaders were part of the worldly society, not the city of God.\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0<\/p>\n
The contrast between these two- Herod and the Magi, is stark.\u00c2\u00a0 For us, the contrast is less so.\u00c2\u00a0 But, to answer the question- which society do we belong to, we need to probe a bit and be honest with ourselves.\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0<\/p>\n
There are three areas where you might hold back on accepting Christ.\u00c2\u00a0 First, perhaps it’s your goals in life.\u00c2\u00a0 \u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0Maybe you are primarily thinking that great achievements will give meaning to your life.\u00c2\u00a0 They won’t – only Christ will.\u00c2\u00a0 The only achievement that will last is that of fulfilling his will, following his example and his teachings.\u00c2\u00a0 Feeling a need to achieve is good, but it can’t be something that consumes you.\u00c2\u00a0 So today, let’s lay those achievements, those gold medals you covet so much, \u00c2\u00a0at the feet of the baby Jesus, just like the Magi offered the gift of gold.\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0<\/p>\n
Maybe it’s the affections of your heart that are your diversion. \u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0Maybe you still think that the perfect relationship will give meaning to your life- your spouse, friends, or a boss; or possibly it is things that make you comfortable or happy that are your diversion- a car, a TV, or clothes.\u00c2\u00a0 Relationships and things, in themselves, won’t bring you the joy of Christmas.\u00c2\u00a0 There is no such thing as the perfect relationship – at least, not without Christ, because all of us are imperfect, and so we need to bear with the imperfections of others.\u00c2\u00a0 In fact, Christ is the one who gives every relationship its lasting beauty and joy because of the loving example he set in relationships.\u00c2\u00a0 And perfect happiness is not found in having things.\u00c2\u00a0 So, strive to please him first, and then he will make your relationships pleasing beyond your wildest dreams, and you will be content with what gifts you have.\u00c2\u00a0 Today, let’s lay the affections of the heart at his feet, \u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0just as the Magi offered our Lord the sweet smell of their frankincense.\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0<\/p>\n
Lastly, maybe it’s your sufferings that are a diversion.\u00c2\u00a0 Maybe you are angry at God for the hurt you have experienced in life.\u00c2\u00a0 But if God has permitted it, it’s only because he knows he can transform you through that suffering.\u00c2\u00a0 All people, and especially Jesus, are subject to suffering.\u00c2\u00a0 Let’s stop rebelling against our King and loving Lord and lay our sufferings at his feet – just as the Magi offered him their myrrh, the spicy ointment used to embalm bodies for burial.\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0<\/p>\n
Lastly, the Magi demonstrated an additional virtue that is a key in determining which society we belong to.\u00c2\u00a0 The Magi lived their faith and demonstrated it to others.\u00c2\u00a0 If you separate your faith from your Mission in the World, then you have not been truly born as a Christian.<\/p>\n
There’s a story about Alexander the great that makes this point.\u00c2\u00a0 One night during a campaign, he couldn’t sleep and left his tent to walk around the camp. \u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0He came across a soldier asleep on guard duty – a serious offense.\u00c2\u00a0 The penalty for falling asleep on guard duty was often instant death.\u00c2\u00a0 The soldier began to wake up as Alexander the Great approached him. \u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0Recognizing who was standing in front of him, the young man feared for his life. \u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0“Do you know what the penalty is for falling asleep on guard duty?” Alexander the Great asked the soldier.\u00c2\u00a0 “Yes, sir,” the soldier responded in a quivering voice.\u00c2\u00a0 “Soldier, what’s your name?” demanded Alexander the Great.\u00c2\u00a0 “Alexander, sir.”\u00c2\u00a0 Alexander the Great repeated: “What is your name?”\u00c2\u00a0 “My name is Alexander, sir,” the soldier repeated.\u00c2\u00a0 A third time and more loudly Alexander the Great asked, “What is your name?”\u00c2\u00a0 A third time the soldier meekly said, “My name is Alexander, sir.”\u00c2\u00a0 Alexander the Great then looked the soldier straight in the eye. \u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0“Soldier,” he said with intensity, “either change your name or change your conduct.”\u00c2\u00a0 Likewise, you will know you are a Christian by your conduct!\u00c2\u00a0<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
\u00c2\u00a0 January 4, 2009 Epiphany Is 60: 1-6; Eph 3: 2-3a, 5-6; Mt 2: 1-12 Dc. Larry Brockman Rejoice! Today is your feast, because today the gentiles experienced salvation.\u00c2\u00a0 You are all members of the Kingdom of God.\u00c2\u00a0 Or are you?\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0 Before you answer, consider this quote from St. Augustine: \u00c2\u00a0“What we see, then, is […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[4],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.deaconlarry.org\/blog\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/45"}],"collection":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.deaconlarry.org\/blog\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.deaconlarry.org\/blog\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.deaconlarry.org\/blog\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.deaconlarry.org\/blog\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=45"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"http:\/\/www.deaconlarry.org\/blog\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/45\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.deaconlarry.org\/blog\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=45"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.deaconlarry.org\/blog\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=45"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.deaconlarry.org\/blog\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=45"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}