Jesus came to save all men

Solemnity of the Epiphany of Our Lord
January 4, 2009

Today’s solemnity, the Epiphany, does not only commemorate the visit of the Magi to the newly born Jesus. It also shows us the universality of salvation. Jesus shows himself not only to the Jews, but also to the non-Jews. The word “epiphany” means “manifestation”. Jesus manifests his presence to men. The Savior has been born.

We, who have already received the faith and baptism, rejoice in the fact that Christ has come to us. We now need to struggle to correspond to Jesus’ presence in our lives. However, we also ought to reach out to all those other persons who may have abandoned the Lord or who have never even known Him. Pope John Paul II said in a homily: “Those who have already reached the faith and those who are on the path to finding it share alike in this feast. They participate, giving thanks for the gift of faith, as did the Kings who, filled with gratitude, knelt before the Child. The Church, more aware each year of the vastness of her mission, participates in the feast. How many people are there still who have to be brought to the faith! How many have to be brought back to the faith they have lost! This at times is more difficult than the first conversion to the faith. The Church, however, aware of the great gift of the Incarnation of God, cannot pause, can never stop. She has to seek continually the way to Bethlehem for all men and for all times. The Epiphany is the feast of God’s challenge.” (January 6, 1979).

Honor the Blessed Mother through service to the poor and suffering

Solemnity of Mary, Mother of God. Octave Day of Christmas. Day of World Peace
January 1, 2009

One week after celebrating the birth of the Lord, the Church now honors His mother. It is but fitting that we venerate in a special way she who generously gave herself to God’s plan of redemption. “What will we do for her? What are the gifts we will offer her? Oh would that we could give her what she deserves. We owe her honor, we owe her service, we owe her love, we owe her praise. We owe her honor because she is the Mother of Our Lord. He who does not honor his mother, undoubtedly does not honor the son.” (Beatus Aelredus, Sermo 20, in nativitate beatae Mariae)

The Church also celebrates today the World Peace Day. Pope Benedict XVI has chosen as the theme of his message, “Fighting Poverty to Build Peace.” Towards the end of his message, he says, “At the start of the New Year, then, I extend to every disciple of Christ and to every person of good will a warm invitation to expand their hearts to meet the needs of the poor and to take whatever practical steps are possible in order to help them. The truth of the axiom cannot be refuted: ‘to fight poverty is to build peace.’” Let us pray to our Blessed Mother for the poor and those who are suffering. We can think of concrete acts of service to carry out for those most in need around us: household helpers, family drivers, employees, and those for whom we can do something.