Epiphany - May we never go back!

Today is the celebration of Epiphany!  Many Christians do not celebrate this liturgical holiday but most everyone knows the story of the three kings who came to visit baby Jesus.  There are many beautiful insights written about the Three Kings, who they were and how they found baby Jesus.  Perhaps the most beautiful insight about these men, has come from the late Rev. Fulton Sheen.  The story of the Visit of the Magi that can be found in chapter 2 of the gospel of Matthew.

The Three Wise Men arrived in Jerusalem searching for the Christ child.  They were gentiles; scientists who came to pay homage to the King.  When Herod heard of their inquiry, he immediately asked that they return to tell him where to find the Christ so that he too could pay homage.  The 3 Kings brought 3 gifts, gold to honor His Kingship, frankincense to honor His Divinity and myrrh to honor His Humanity.  Myrrh was also used at His burial.

After paying homage, God warned the Three Wise Men not to return to Jerusalem but instead go home by another way.  It is in this Scripture passage (Matthew 2:12) that Fulton Sheen has immense insight.  He says "No one who ever meets Christ with a good will returns the same way he came."

Of course the Wise Men went home a different way.  What does this mean for us?  It means that when we approach Christ, the Divine Life, we must allow a conversion within our hearts, such that we do not go back to our old sinful ways.  We must allow His presence and His love to change us, to conform us to His Will.  In doing so, we take a different path with our lives.  It is our response to His grace and love that allows God's will to become our own.  These conversions can happen daily, if we allow it.  As Catholics, we don't believe that there was one conversion that has achieved us Salvation.  Though you may experience a great conversion that forever changes you, we all experience many conversions throughout our lives that help us to become more Christ-like.  It is our response to His love that allows us to change the path of our life; resisting the temptation to return to our sinful habits.

This is why a strong prayer life is so critical.  We must humbly approach God each day through his Word, through daily Scripture reading.  When we read Scripture, our hearts and minds are hearing the Truth.  Reflection on these holy words allow us to incorporate these Truths into our daily lives.  We must listen with an open heart, one that is willing to hear things we may not want to hear, but we know that it is Truth.  We must then take these Truths that God reveals to us, examine our own life and then commit to change our own actions.

I strongly encourage you to pick up a copy of "Life of Christ" by Fulton J. Sheen.  Fulton Sheen was the bishop of Rochester and lived from 1895 to 1979.  He was a great man of immense faith and wisdom who is without a doubt, a Saint.  His canonization by the Church is under consideration.