Epiphany: To Humanity, From God

       Pop quiz!  Can you name all the gifts you received for Christmas this year?  How about five or ten years ago?  It is amazing how quickly we forget what was sitting under our trees even though our culture often touts the holiday as a mere gift exchange.  As Catholic-Christians, we know that Christmas is about something much more profound; thus, we celebrate it as a season instead of a single day.  One of the most important days during this season that transmits the meaning of this time of year is the Solemnity of Epiphany.  The coming of the magi and the gifts they bring are far from meaningless.
       The visit of the wise men to worship the Christ-child is especially important for those of us who are not descendants of the chosen people of ancient Israel.  After all, it was the Jewish people who were waiting for a Messiah, and yet, Christ comes with a mission for all people.  The wise men, from the far-off lands of the East and led by the light of a star, represent the rest of the world that Jesus came to love and save.  Epiphany, meaning a manifestation, is one of the clear moments in history when God reveals himself to all the nations.
       Our children easily put to memory the gifts of the magi: gold, frankincense, and myrrh.  If we end our reflection on the gifts there, however, we lose some of their deeper meaning.  The wise men are telling us implicitly what they believe about this child by what they give him.  Gold represents Jesus’ royal nature, that he is the King of Kings.  The three kings, as they are sometimes called, have arrived to worship someone whose power and wisdom greatly exceeds their own.  Frankincense, as its name suggests, is a type of incense that, when burned, rises as smoke to the heavens.  Still used in the Church today during important times of prayer, the smoke of burned incense represents our prayers rising up to God.  Jesus, coming as the Messiah at the Incarnation, was an answer to thousands of years of prayers that we find contained within the Old Testament.  Myrrh is the final gift of the wise men, and it reminds us that Christmas is much more than a gift-giving holiday or time for parties.  Myrrh has several uses, but one of the most prominent is as a burial perfume.  Jesus comes with a mission for salvation, and his Incarnation is inextricably linked with his coming Passion.
       Thankfully, the gifts of the magi are more memorable and meaningful than anything we give each other this time of year.  They prompt us to consider the deeper meaning of Christmas, including the foreshadowing of his demanding sacrifice.  May our celebration of Christmas continue in our hearts and homes this season, especially as we reflect upon the manifestation of Christ to the entire world.  And when Jesus manifests himself in our own lives and families, may we come to worship him the whole year, following the example of the wise men as we give him homage.

Advent: What's with All the Waiting?

       Every year, as I visit the grocery store and see the some employees marking the Halloween candy at a 50% discount, I see others simultaneously stocking shelves with other candy, decorations, and general Christmas and holiday merchandise.  Then, as soon as December 26 arrives, all those things head to the clearance racks.  We see lights and decorations going up on houses, Christmas tunes on the radio, and party invitations and cards in the mail.  Yet, when we arrive at church, all that we see is a four-candled wreath and priests and deacon dressed in purple?  What is the discrepancy here?  Is the Catholic Church full of Ebenezer Scrooges?!
       Of course, we know better than that, but it can make us feel out of sorts to have to be waiting liturgically for the arrival of Christmas while our culture all around us speeds ahead.  This begs the question, “What’s with all the waiting?”  After all, delayed gratification is not exactly en vogue these days.  Thankfully, the Church has an answer, and it is a two-fold one.  First, Advent reminds of the time that humanity spent waiting for a savior.  As we read through the Old Testament and the history of the chosen people of Israel, we begin to realize just how long the world waited for the Messiah and what a joyous event his arrival indeed was.  The second reason is to remind us that we are still waiting, preparing ourselves for Jesus’ Second Coming at the end of time.  For us as Catholics, we look forward to this moment not in fear of the unknown but in hopeful expectation of eternal life.
       Our challenge, then, in the midst of the swirl of activity in our culture this time of year, is to spend some time as a family in intentional waiting.  We cannot, of course, pretend as if nothing is happening to prepare for Christmas, but I do think there are a few ideas we might try.  Most families have a nativity crèche as a part of their Christmas decorations.  Instead of placing all the figures all at once, leave baby Jesus and the magi in the box.  Bring them out only on the liturgically appropriate days.  Be intentional about your family advent wreath, praying around it before dinner or once everyone arrives home from their many activities.  Wait to pull out all the stops on your Christmas celebrations until the day actually arrives.  One great thing about being Catholic is that we really know how to prolong a celebration!  The Christmas season lasts all the way until the Baptism of the Lord, which is January 12 this year.  Keep your lights burning brightly and your homes festive as we consider the awesome mystery of God becoming one of us.  There are other ideas of keeping the Advent and Christmas seasons well, of course, so pray about what you will do as a family to wait for the Lord and celebrate with true joy once he comes.