Divine Blessedness!

 (Homily 4^th Sunday in Ordinary Time Yr-A)

          The readings of today invite us to become beatitude people; therefore we need to be meek, poor and pure in heart. The overriding theme in the today’s readings is the theme of the poor. In the first reading the word of God says: “In your midst I will place a humble and lowly people.” Even the Psalmist in the responsorial psalm took it up: “Happy are the poor in spirit.” In the Gospel Jesus says: “Blessed are the poor in spirit”. On the other hand, in the second reading St. Paul puts it in a rather latent manner thus: “God chose what is foolish…weak…low and despised.” However, a closer look at the quotations above reveals not only the important place given to the poor in the Christian literature, but also it raises the question of the category of the poor being referred to; is it the economical and materially poor (as in the stanzas of the psalm) or a spiritualized notion (as in the first beatitude)? The poverty blessed by Jesus does not consist in an economic situation of misery, rather it refers to a religious or spiritual category, the poor who lack human security open themselves easily to the message of Jesus, those who recognize their dependency on God. The words of Jesus over the centuries have been understood from different perspectives: allegorical, eschatological, fundamentalist and sociological. However, our evangelist presents Jesus’ words with existential, internal and spiritual underpinnings.

         The first reading (Zeph. 2:3; 3:12-13) is taken from the prophecy of Zephaniah, one of the least known and least used in the Old Testament prophets. It has been so from the beginning, for instance in the whole of the New Testament it was cited only once in the gospel of Mathew (13:41). Zephaniah prophesied during the reign of King Josiah, who embarked on reformation. Prophet Zephaniah was filled with a sense of impending doom, as such, he had much to say about the day of the Lord, and for him and Amos, the day of the Lord would be a day of darkness and not of light, a day of great judgment for the Israelites. Therefore, in view of this impending judgment, prophet Zephaniah in the passage of our first reading invited the Israelites to seek for righteousness and humility, because it is only righteous and humble people that will escape the judgment day. The passage of this reading is made up of two separated passages, or better chapters. However, the combination of the two texts could be justified, for both passages laid emphasis on humility as the veritable ground for standing secure on the day of the Lord. Drawing the issue further, Zephaniah’s major contribution to the Old Testament literature was his emphasis on God’s concern for the Anawim, that is, the poor. This theme of the poor resurfaced in the passage of the Gospel in the first beatitude.

     The Gospel passage (Mt. 5:1-12a) is taken from the famous discourse or sermon of Jesus on the Mount, where he proclaimed the Beatitudes. The letterry genre of the Beatitudes is found in the Old Testament too: “How blessed is anyone who rejects the advice of the wicked…” (Ps.1:1); “Blessed anyone who cares for the poor and the weak…” (Ps. 41:1); “How blessed are all who fear the Lord, who walk in his ways” (Ps. 128:1). The eight beatitudes of Mathew constitute the initial part of the so called Sermon on the Mount, and as such, they are to be considered in the light of the entire sermon, but in a way they may be considered as the synthesis of the whole discourse. At first we capture the image of Jesus that climbs the mountain, and this gesture presents Jesus as the new Moses, who has come to proclaim the new law and the statute of the new people of God, the people of the new covenant: the Church. The beatitudes are proclaimed by Jesus in a fascinating way. The choice of the Mount by Mathew for this sermon is in line with his conception of these sets of teachings as the new law, which corresponds with the old law given by Moses on Mount Sinai. For Mathew Jesus is the new law giver, the new Moses. Though for Luke the Sermon took place on the plain (Lk. 6:17-26). In Gospel of Luke Jesus spoke directly to his disciples: “Then fixing his eyes on his disciples he said: “How blessed are you, who are poor, the kingdom of God is yours” (Lk. 6:20). While Luke used the second person, Matthew used the third person, and the use of the third person by Matthew confers on the Beatitudes a sapiential and timeless character, as such, they transcend the historical situation in which Jesus pronounced them. Thus, Jesus is still proclaiming the same words for us today! The Beatitudes that are unique to Matthew are the meek, the merciful, the pure in heart and the peace makers, the other four are similar to that of Luke., although in Luke we have only four of them, which were immediately followed by the proclamation of four woes.

     Indeed, it has been often observed that the beatitudes describe the life of Christ himself. The beatitudes that were proclaimed by him were not abstract precepts or theoretical enunciations, rather they are portraits of Jesus himself, who first lived and experienced them integrally. He is the poor in spirit per excellence, the One who hungers and thirsts for justice, the merciful, the pure in heart, peace-maker and the persecuted. It is necessary to clarify the thoughts of Jesus, thus, by proclaiming blessed or happy some categories of people in certain life conditions, Jesus didn’t intend to exalt or to beatify the situations of suffering and pain.

     The disciple of Christ, therefore, a true Christian is one who follows the Master and incarnates the beatitudes in his or her life. But in order to live the beatitudes it is necessary to enter in the world of new values, that is, the Kingdom of God. The new values of the Kingdom render the values that were considered to be absolute (money, power and success) invalid. The first beatitude proclaimed by Jesus which summarizes all the discourse on the mount, is according to Mathew: “Blessed are the poor in spirit, because the kingdom of heaven is theirs”, that is, blessed, happy are those who choose to be poor. Poverty in spirit does not signify only interior detachment, of the heart from earthly things, but it also signifies poverty, a choice, not imposed by necessity or suffered out of a particular circumstance. The poor in spirit is one who renounces the accumulation of earthly things, who chooses to live without making money, power and carrier absolutes, who refuses the idolatry of money and of power. But this does not mean to wallow in idleness, rather it hinges on not counting on human means and security. The poor of the beatitudes are like the poor that prophet Zephaniah and St. Paul talked about in the first and second readings, it is all about those who even though they are well to do, yet they place their hope in God, those who are free from egoism, from the ambitions of power and from the avidity of riches. They are those who have placed their trust in the Lord, convinced that He does not disappoint, and that is why they are happy and blessed.

          However, we may ask a pertinent question thus: why are these categories of people proclaimed blessed by Jesus? Not because to them Jesus assured success and wealth, but they are blessed because the “Good News” of God’s kingdom has been announced to them, and they were disposed to welcome it, from here springs joy, happiness and blessedness. We too can be called blessed if we welcome the Good news and all that it comports, for by so doing we will be on the road to holiness. Be that as it may, the road to sanctity or holiness is the road of the beatitudes. Spiritual poverty or humility and detachment from the things of this world, meekness and the rejection of every form of violence, bearing pains, thirst for justice, comprehension and mercy towards ones neighbour, purity of heart, spirit of peace: are the roads to holiness.

           Furthermore, the spirit of the beatitudes is indispensable for the construction of a human society that is more healthy, just and serene. With the beatitudes Jesus launches a sort of revolution, but his revolution is not against someone, rather his revolution is for someone. The Gospel invites us to put the foundation of our joy on the love of God, a faithful love, its promises are sure and infallible. The joy of the beatitudes finds its foundation on the certainty of a blessed and happy future that will be God’s gift, but together in the joyous discovery that already here it is possible to have a foretaste of a new way of living, of possessing a world of values (the Kingdom of God).

          In the second reading (1Cor. 1:26-31) we see the presentation of the real problem of the Corinthian Church. The trouble with the Corinthians was that they were too sure of themselves and that made them to be boastful of their wisdom. They believed that through their initiation into Christ, they had been made partakers in the divine wisdom. St. Paul went to the theological root of the matter and thus, told them the truth about themselves: “not many wise according to worldly standards, not many powerful, not many noble of noble birth.” Truly, before God they have nothing to boast about. Therefore, they should be humbled because their salvation is not as a result of their own spiritual endowments, wisdom and achievements, but it is a manifestation of God’s saving act in Jesus Christ. If at all they should “glory”, they should glory in and about the Lord, that is, in the saving act of God in Christ.

          Above all else, however, we need to ask ourselves concretely if our moral profile corresponds to the one delineated in the beatitudes, that is, if truly we are persons who do not run after material wealth as a mirage of happiness, or we trust and confide in God, if we are simple and humble persons, if we are people who desire to work for justice and peace with the force of love, also ready to bear persecutions for the cause of good. Or we are like the Corinthians that puff up with the air of presumption that all is out of merit. Indeed, it is necessary that we assimilate the evangelical mentality of the beatitudes and believe that with it we can be happy already on this earth, and fully happy in the hereafter. Interestingly, at the end of his teaching on the Beatitudes, Jesus told his listeners and to us, “Rejoice and be glad”, for you are the blessed of God. As a matter of fact, in living the beatitudes, we come to a sense of wholeness, a sense that all is right within us. We gain the peace that comes from being close to God. Indeed Christ offers us joy, we become joy-filled. As a bonus, Christ promised: “Your reward will be great in heaven.”

 (Fr. Vitus M.C. Unegbu, SC)

His Word Gives Light and Joy!

(Homily 3^rd Sunday in Ordinary Time Yr-A)

Sunday For The Word Of God!

          The readings of this Sunday reveal the fulfillment and realization of the messianic prophecies in the person of Jesus of Nazareth. This is the overriding theme that will characterize the readings of the Sundays in ordinary time before the Lenten season. We are going to see Jesus at the beginning of his public ministry and preaching. Today we hear the great proclamation of light and joy made possible by Jesus. The Word of God is a source of joy and light. Little wonder, the two recurred in the first and Gospel readings. By coming into the world Jesus did not just come to forgive our sins, but he brought a great light and joy through his gracious words and mighty deeds. In that bid, today the first reading from the Old Testament contains the prophecy and the Gospel contains the realization of that prophecy, because God is faithful to his Word. Again, true conversion is the theme that amalgamates the readings of this Sunday. In the Gospel passage, Jesus started his preaching saying: “Repent”. The Good News (the Word) is at the basis of Jesus’ ministry. On the other hand, when conversion or repentance to the Gospel of Jesus Christ has not penetrated totally in a person, when it is superficial, there will be divisions and discord as it happened in the Corinthian community. And there cannot be an authentic and thorough conversion without the aid of God’s Word.

          Today is a special day in the life of the Church and in our experiences as Christians, for this Sunday has recently been dedicated to the celebration, study and dissemination of the Word of God, for the purpose of reawakening our faith in God and our consciousness in the power of God’s Word. Pope Francis in his Apostolic Letter, Motu Proprio: “Aperuit illis” published on the (feast of St. Jerome) 30th of September, 2019 established this. We really need to go back to our spiritual source as Christians that is returning to the origin: The Word of God. We need to rediscover the power and efficacy of God’s Word in the life and mission of the Church and in the life of every single Christian. In the words of St. Jerome, “Ignorance of the scripture is ignorance of Christ” and it is indeed true! We cannot boast of knowing Jesus without a profound knowledge and attachment to the Word of God. The Word of God is for us a spiritual eye-opener and mind-opener. We remember vividly the episode of Jesus and his disciples after His resurrection, on the way to Emmaus, where the Risen Lord opened the eyes and minds of his disciples through the Word of God (Lk. 24:27.31). Jesus in so many ways continues to open not only our eyes and minds but also our hearts through the Word.  

          The first reading (Is. 9:1-4) from the prophecy of Isaiah starts with reference to the land of Zebulun and Naphtali and Galilee of the nations, that is, the Gentiles. Isaiah prophesied to the Galileans deported from Tiglat-Pileser III in 732 a.C. They were heart broken and discomforted in exile. And to them the Prophet announced a sudden light coming to dissipate the darkness shrouding them, that is the end of slavery and the return to their own land in joy galore. In this episode is condensed the promise for all mankind, who decries for her existential conditions many a times dominated by evil and all kinds of slavery. This humanity overburdened by the weight of her own experiences of injustice, suppression and oppression will one day see a great light and an abundant joy. Indeed, to say it with Isaiah: “The people that walked in darkness have seen a great light, on the inhabitants of a country in shadow dark as death light has blazed forth. You have enlarged the nation; you have increased its joy” (Is. 9:1-2). Indeed, just as it is suggestive of our general theme this Sunday, it is the Word of God proclaimed through the prophet that brought light and joy to the people of Israel. In the words of the Psalmist: “your word is a lamp for my step, a light on my path” (Ps. 119:105).

          The Gospel periscope (Mt. 4:12-23) presents the beginning of Jesus’ ministry in Galilee. Jesus began his ministry by proclaiming Good News (God’s Word) of light and joy. At the heart of this ministry is Jesus’ call to repentance for the nearness of the kingdom of heaven, the calling of his disciples and the performance of healing miracles. The Word of God produces effects and transforms. In this passage Mathew underlines the universality of the Good News, for it did not begin from the Judean territory, but in the Galilee of the Gentiles, as such the Good News is for all men. We need to disseminate the Word to every corner of the earth and to every corner of the human heart. And the Church is called to continue this universal mission of Christ, which he began in Galilee. Jesus began his ministry with a proposal which in reality is his program of evangelization: “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand”. Christ came to preach and to inaugurate the Kingdom of God among men, but he was convinced that the Kingdom begins from the heart of men when they embark on a journey of conversion, made possible through God’s Word. Conversion means recognizing that you are walking on a wrong path, and surmounting courage to abandon the wrong path and take resolutely the right path. His Word is indeed a lamp! Conversion has to do with changing of direction, with a shifting of position. It is basically about a positive change. The Word of God faithfully welcomed leads to conversion.

          A little while after his baptism Jesus comes to Capharnaum, in Galilee of the Gentiles, the very region that saw a multitude of the Jews taken in exile. As St. Mathew narrates in the Gospel, the presence of Jesus in that place serves as the ‘yes’ of God to the ancient prophecy, to fulfill what was written by prophet Isaiah. Jesus is the great light that sprouts for humanity. He confirmed this when he said: “I am the light of the world” (Jn. 8:12). What does light mean here? It means way, truth and life. He is the way, the truth and the life” (Jn. 14:6). He is the way and the truth for he guarantees success to our spiritual journey and he enlightens our path. For this the Psalmist says: “Your word is a lamp for my feet, a light on my path” (Ps.119:105). The knowledge and practice of the Word brings enlightenment. In Jesus the eternal Word, light and life often go together, Jesus says: “anyone who follows me will not be walking in darkness, but will have the light of life” (Jn.8:12). There is light in both the incarnate and written Word of God.

          He is also joy or better he brings joy. When Jesus was born, it was announced by the angel thus: “I bring you news of great joy, a joy to be shared by the whole people” (Lk. 2:10). He is indeed, the joy to be shared by the whole people. In fact, his whole existence seems to be condensed in these words pronounced a night before his death: “I have told you this so that my own joy may be in you and your joy be complete” (Jn. 15:11), “Ask and you will receive, and so your joy will be complete” (Jn. 16:24). The word “Gospel” also means Good News, that is a message of happiness and joy. Jesus says “I have come so that they may have life and have it to the full” (Jn. 10:10), and of course, joy is in connection with life, the fullness of life, which Jesus has come to inaugurate on earth. St. Paul also entered the dynamics of joy when he invited the disciples: “Always be joyful, then in the Lord; I repeat, be joyful” (Phil. 4:4). For the sake of Jesus’ presence the Christian existence ought to be an existence of joy irrespective of the odds and challenges. Permit me to say that a sad Christian is a bad Christian. It is either that we are joyful or the Good News of Christ has not permeated into the inner recesses of our being! Instead we have to be like those coming back from harvest, full of joy, singing and carrying the sheaves (cf. Ps. 126:6). We have to be witnesses to the world of the light and joy that come from the incarnate and written Word of God. Even in the midst of the modern forms of slavery we are facing today, the word of God in the book of Nehemiah is our propelling force: “The joy of the Lord is our strength” (Neh. 8:10). The joy of the Lord emanates from His Word!

         The second part of the Gospel is quite thrilling. There we see Peter and his brother Andrew, fishermen already established in their career. They were making their daily catch and sales. They must have had regular customers who depended on them for the fish they consume. Lo and behold, one day Jesus appeared, he looked at them and said: “The kingdom of heaven is at hand, come follow me” And there and then, they dropped their fishing nets, their means of livelihood, and followed him. Again he met two others: James and John the sons of Zebedee, and upon Jesus invitation they left their boat and father and followed Jesus. The Word is so powerful; little wonder this first group of disciples could not resist the invitation of Jesus. God’s Word is invitatory! The two sets of disciples symbolically abandoned all the tools of their old business, thus ready for a ‘new career’ that Jesus was going to show them. God calls in different ways, for a particular task. But the response of these first four disciples was immediate and total. That is how our own responses too to God’s call have to be. Jesus said to Peter and his brother Andrew, “Come, I will make you fishers of men”. Jesus called them for something greater and better: “fishers of men”. Indeed, God’s call opens up new horizon. It introduces one into the dynamics of freedom, freedom from and freedom for, freedom from the work of a fisherman to freedom for the work of fisher of men. God still continues to call us in various ways and circumstances of our life, and when He calls us, He wants us to liberate ourselves from all that may hinder us from giving a total response to His call, in order to be free for the demands of his Word and call. What is our own reaction when we hear his Words addressed to us? The sacred author gave us words of encouragement thus: “Today if you hear His words harden not your hearts” (Heb. 3:15; Ps.95:7b-8a).

          Jesus knew that he will die and return to the Father. At the same time he knew that he was sent to all in order to proclaim the Word and invite everyone to conversion. Given that he cannot do it personally all alone, he chose some disciples, some followers who will help him in disseminating the Word of God and preaching conversion to the whole world, with the power of the Holy Spirit. Today he continues to call us through his Word to be partakers in this great task of catching men and women for God. The Word of God is ever alive and active, capable of really catching and attracting men and women for God. Our celebration of the Word of God today, is indeed in line with Jesus’ invitation for the dissemination of the Word.   

          In the second reading (1Cor. 1:10-13.17) St. Paul brings to light the most nagging issue in the Corinthian Church, and that is dissension. Little wonder, the apostle began with an appeal to them thus: “I appeal to you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree and that there be no dissension among you, but that you be united in the same mind and the same judgment” (v.10). The issue here bothers on a split into cliques, each group claiming the patronage of and belongingness to one of the great leaders of the Church: “every one of you is declaring, ‘I belong to Paul’ or ‘I belong to Apollos’ or ‘I belong to Cephas’ or ‘I belong to Christ” (v. 12). Paul responded to their dissension and division into groups by reminding them the foundation of their Baptism in the name of Christ. As such, dissension among Christians is a sort of denial of the baptismal reality that makes us one. He reminded them that they are baptized in the name of Christ and not in the name of any human leader whatsoever. We too need to break down barriers. And the Word of God faithfully and convincingly accepted does that great work. The Word of God has a formidable force of uniting believers.

          Today more than ever, we need to rediscover the centrality of the Word of God in our life as Christians. There is indeed power in the Word of God. Jesus says: “The words I have spoken to you are spirit and they are life” (Jn. 6:63). Indeed, the Word of God gives life and enlightenment, a great tool for discernment. The Word of God is eternal; “Sky and earth will pass away, but my words will never pass away” (Lk.21:33; Mt. 24:35). And Isaiah in his prophecy says putting words in the mouth of God thus “So it is with the word that goes from my mouth: it will not return to me unfilled or before having carried out my good pleasure and having achieved what it was sent to do” (Is. 55:11). The Word of God is powerful. Jeremiah says: “is not my word like fire, declares the Lord, and like a hammer that breaks a rock in pieces” (Jer. 23:29). The Word of God penetrates every situation and every heart even the hardest ones! When you pray through the Word, and stand on the word something happens. When we pray God’s Word over a situation, we cannot fail, because his Word cannot fail. His Words bring healing: “he sent forth his word and cured them, and rescued their life from the abyss” (Ps.107:20), we obtain healing through his Word. Take the power of his Word now…

          We need to establish a constant contact with the Word of God, we are called to create a space for It in our lives. For this Jesus says: “If you remain in me and my words remain in you, you may ask for whatever you please and you will get it” (Jn. 15:7). To accurately discern and pray the Word, we must abide in Him; this indeed is basic and the first step. There is power praying through God’s Word, power to obtain whatever that we may ask. We need to abide in the Word. Elsewhere the Scripture says: “Let these words of mine remain in your heart and in your soul; fasten them in your heart and in your soul; fasten them  on your hand as a sign and on your forehead as a headband” (Deut. 11:18). Here, we can talk about positive possession by the Word of God. The Psalmist says: “Your word I have hidden in my heart that I might not sin against you” (Ps. 119:11), when we form the habit of praying through God’s Word, His Word inhabits in us, and empowers us to overcome sin.

          Above all, in the words of Mons. R. Fisichella: “This Sunday, he (Pope Francis) wants to stimulate all Christians not just to place the bible on the shelf as one of many books perhaps filled with dust, but as an instrument that awakens our faith”. On this day and beyond we are invited to enthrone the Word of God at the center of our hearts and life and not just on the shelves and maybe very close to our pillows on the bed. As the Word of God today calls our attention to conversion, we need to bear in mind that conversion has a beginning, but it ends with life. Conversion is a long and continuous process, which one continues to interiorize with the passage of time, the help of the action of divine grace and a constant contact with the Word of God. No doubt, the Word of God is a veritable tool of and for conversion. A Christian must live daily in and with the attitude of conversion, and this consciousness can only be created by the Word of God. Today, as we celebrate the Word of God, Jesus invites all, children, youth, adults, everyone according to his or her possibility and condition to reflect over our lives, and to change direction whereby we are not on the right track and path. He is inviting us to let the Word of God in, to allow the Word of God to permeate into our lives. Jesus is inviting us to take the path and the direction that leads to Life, where there is everlasting Light and Joy, for the Word of God brings light and joy. God, who is faithful to his Word, is ever ready to grant us the grace of conversion, in an active experience of his gratuitous mercy and infinite love. May we prayerfully join our voices to that of the psalmist in imploring God: “God, create in me a clean heart, renew within me a resolute spirit” (Ps. 51:10).

(Fr. Vitus M.C. Unegbu, SC)

Behold The Lamb Of God!

(Homily 2^nd Sunday in Ordinary Time Yr-A)

       At the event of the Baptism of Jesus we saw what could be plausibly considered the best introduction of the Son by the Father, before the Son officially began his ministry. The Father served as the first Presenter of the Son to the world. An in-depth reflection on the liturgy of the word today reveals the universal destiny of Jesus in connection with the three readings. The servant of Yahweh, as Jesus was prefigured, was called to be light to the nations, that salvation may reach the end of the earth” (first reading). In the Gospel John the Baptist presented Jesus as “the Lamb of God, who takes away the sins of the world”. On his part St. Paul announces to the Corinthians that they are called to be God’s people together with all those who invoke the name of Jesus Christ in any place (second reading). From the beginning of the ordinary time the Church invites us to reflect on the Salvation of Christ, which is destined to all and it has to reach all the ends of the earth in order to render present his Kingdom among men. The Church thus presents herself as the community of salvation and she wants to communicate this truth in all the angles of the earth. The Word of God offers us a synthesis of our faith, where the past confirms the future. The promises and the ancient prophecies were realized in Jesus, the true Lamb of God, and this serves as a guarantee that the part of the promises that have not been fulfilled will certainly be fulfilled. God is faithful to His words.

          The first reading (Is. 49:3.5-6) by means of prefiguration continues the theme of servant hood and manifestation of Jesus at the event of the Baptism. This passage is the second of the servant songs in Second Isaiah. In this second song, the prophet affirms that God formed his servant even from the womb. This idea of predestination is common among Hebrew prophets. We see this equally in the prophecy of Jeremiah: “Before I formed you in the womb I knew you” (Jer. 1:5) and in the New Testament it recurs in the Pauline corpus: “But when God, who had set me apart from the time I was in my mother’s womb, called me through his grace” (Gal. 1:15). As a matter of fact, this idea of predestination in the Bible is not to be understood from the point of view of an infringement of the human freedom or a limitation of it, rather it is a form of a doxological expression of faith in a given situation. It appeared also in the annunciation and the infancy narratives of the Gospels. Again, the passage expresses the universality of the servant’s mission. The first song talked about him as “a light to the nations”. The second song extended the horizon of the servant’s mission thus: “I will give you as a light to the nations that my salvation may reach to the ends of the earth”. The universal dimension of the servant’s mission serves as a bridge connecting the first and the Gospel readings.

          In the responsorial psalm (Ps. 40) the Psalmist maintains that God desires obedience to His will, and not sacrifice and burnt offering for sins. Therefore, that self-oblation must accompany our sacrifices to God. This psalm has a Christological background, referring to Christ, the servant, who offered himself in his baptism to a life of total obedience to the Father, a life that will lead Him to the sacrifice of his very self on Calvary. He offered himself wholly for the realization of the Father’s will. The theme of this Psalm raises our gaze from the event of His Baptism to the reality of his immolation on the Cross., thus on the figure of the Lamb of God.

          The Gospel (Jn. 1:29-34) is a narrative of the event of the Lord’s Baptism by St. John but not in a very detailed and direct manner. In that episode he presents John the Baptist bearing witness to the theological implications of the Baptism as evidenced by the voice from heaven and in the descent of the dove. In his words: “I did not know him myself, but he who sent me to baptize with water had said to me, “The man on whom you see the Spirit come down and rest is the one who is to baptize with the Holy Spirit”” (v.33). Drawing the issue further, the voice from heaven declared Jesus the Son of God, thus in reference to the title given to him by John the Baptist at the beginning of the passage: “Lamb of God” who takes away the sins of the world. This could be seen in relation with the identification of Jesus as the servant of Yahweh in Second Isaiah. In his Gospel John affirms two important elements about the event: First, that Jesus “is the Chosen One of God” (v.34), as such, the theological meaning of his Baptism is incumbent upon the manifestation of Jesus as the servant of Yahweh. Second, that Jesus’ mission as the servant involves bearing the burden of our sins (cf. Is. 53:5). Be that as it may, the Baptism event points already to the Passion and his saving death. Jesus is indeed, the sacrificial Lamb that takes away the sins of the world.

          In the episode of today’s Gospel the Father is now using a human agent to introduce the Son and that is, the Precursor, John the Baptist. John the Baptist was indeed a faithful witness and presenter of the Son. He bore authentic, humble and selfless testimony to the Son. John baptized Jesus as he saw Him coming towards him, and then presented Him to his disciples saying: “Look, there is the lamb of God” (Jn. 1:36). Indeed, the title “Lamb of God’ is one of the greatest titles and attributes of Jesus. What could be John’s reason in introducing Jesus as the Lamb of God? We can make three considerations here: ●First, maybe he got inspiration from the Passover lamb in the book of Exodus. Therein, it was the blood of the lamb that protected the Israelites on the memorable night they left Egypt (cf. Ex. 12:11-12). The blood of the lamb that delivered the Israelites from destruction and death is a prefiguration of the Real Lamb: Jesus, who will shed his own blood on the cross for the remission of sins and for the liberation of mankind. In the same vein, St. Paul in one of his epistles will equally identify Jesus as the “Passover Lamb” (1Cor. 5:7). With that expression we may well posit that John the Baptist was invariably telling his disciples that Jesus is the Real Lamb. ●Second, maybe John the Baptist as a son of a high priest, Zechariah, was trying to make reference to the temple sacrifices that are performed on daily basis in Jerusalem, where lambs were sacrificed in the temple for the sins of the people, “This is what you must offer on the altar: two yearling male lambs each day in perpetuity. A perpetual burnt offering for all your generations to come, at the entrance to the Tent of Meeting before Yahweh, where I shall meet you and speak to you” (Ex. 29:38.42). Until the destruction of the temple in 70 A.D this daily offering was made in the temple. Indeed, this daily sacrifice could be seen as in connection with the self-offering of Jesus on the cross, which is the same as the sacrifice we offer every day at Mass. However, the difference is that the sacrifice on the cross was bloody, but the one at the Eucharistic sacrifice is not bloody, therein Jesus is the Priest, the Victim and the Altar on which the sacrifice takes place (He is the Offerer and the Offering). ●Third, he might be alluding to the prophecies of Jeremiah and Isaiah. In the words of Jeremiah: “I for my part was like a trustful lamb being led to the slaughterhouse” (Jer. 11:19). Prophet Isaiah said a similar thing thus: “like a lamb led to the slaughterhouse” (Is. 53:7). The two prophets envisaged the one who through his humble sufferings and sacrifice liberates and redeems his people; the humble Lamb.

          Drawing the issue further, one of those disciples of John the Baptist that heard the presentation of his master: “Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sins of the world” and he followed Jesus, is indeed the one who documented this for the Church: John the Evangelist. After so many years he remembers his first encounter with Jesus at the bank of river Jordan. This first presentation of Jesus: “Behold the Lamb of God” was impressed in his heart, to the point that he continued to call the Master: “Lamb of God”. It became one of the delightful names of his Master, and this name penetrates deeply into the personality and mission of Jesus. As a matter of fact, what does this name say about Jesus? In the Old Testament there two figures of the lamb: one is a real lamb and the other is a metaphorical lamb. ►The real lamb was the one at the night of Exodus, through God’s order was sacrificed in Egypt and the blood liberated the people from slavery and enabled them to pass to freedom in the Promised Land. Beginning from that moment, every year during the Passover feast (Easter) the Jewish people, family by family sacrifice a lamb and in the night, they eat it all together, in remembrance of the liberation from slavery in Egypt. ►The metaphorical lamb was the “dumb lamb that was led to the slaughterhouse” of the prophecy of Isaiah and Jeremiah. As a matter of fact, something new was said about this lamb that was not said about the real lamb, a fact that will throw light on his mission: “He was wounded for our sins, crushed because of our guilt; the punishment reconciling us fell on him, and we have been healed by his bruises” (Is. 53:5). Therefore, it is no longer about a lamb that saves and liberates only a people from social and political slavery, but a lamb that liberates all peoples from perdition, by bearing on himself the burden of all their sins. That Lamb is in our midst even now! That Lamb is our Eucharistic Jesus!

          Indeed, when the people around heard that presentation by John the Baptist: “Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sins of the world” they understood that finally the Liberator sent by God has appeared in the world, the Redeemer of all mankind. With this affirmation at the beginning of his Gospel, St. John preannounces the final destiny of Jesus; he already introduces the reality of the Cross. That Lamb according to the prophecy will be sacrificed for our sins. For this, on Calvary at the moment of his immolation, St. John will be intent on reminding us again that he is the Lamb of God. He does that by attaching to him the prescription of Exodus: “nor may you break any of its bones” (Ex. 12:46; Jn. 19:36), referring to the paschal lamb which evokes implicitly the mystical lamb of Isaiah 53 that was “wounded for our sins”.

          Indeed, the death of Jesus did not even stop the title of the Lamb. He was awaited in the New Testament as the spotless lamb (1Pt. 1:19), and after his Resurrection he awaits humanity as the “Lamb seated upon the throne” (Rev. 5.), he awaits and accompanies mankind until all on earth gather around his throne, that is, those who bear the seal of his blood. That is how St. John presented the Lord in the book of Revelation as “a Lamb standing that seemed to have been sacrificed” (Rev. 5:6), that is the symbol of the slain and risen Lamb (it depicts his Death and Resurrection). Salvation reaches all men through the Lamb of God, who was the victim for the expiation of our sins. But for those who are against the Lamb St. John says they will seek to hide away from “the retribution of the Lamb” (Rev. 6:16). Jesus is the Paschal Lamb that liberates every man from the slavery of Egypt (Ex. 12), that is from sin. He is the Gentle Lamb that was taken to the slaughter house for sacrifice, carrying upon himself all our pains and sufferings (Is. 53). He is the Glorious Lamb, who is capable of opening the book of the seven seals, that no one was able to open, and to decipher for humanity and for every man the enigma of human history and destiny, the lamb slain, yet standing (Rev. 5).

          Again talking about Jesus as the lamb, the Lamb in the bible, like wise in other cultures alludes to innocence, vulnerability and weakness. It is a symbol of the innocent being that cannot hurt anyone. Aware of this symbolism, St. Peter called Christ “the Lamb without blemish” (1Pt. 1:19). The title Lamb of God evokes Jesus indeed as the innocent who suffers. Jesus as the innocent who suffers knows the taste of suffering, not externally like the friends of Job, He knows pain from within, little wonder, he cannot but be moved and weep in the face of the pain of the widow of Nain (cf. Lk. 7:11-17) and the sorrow of the sisters Lazarus (cf. Jn. 11:33). Indeed, the Christian’s answer to the problem of or interrogation on innocent suffering is enclosed in one name: Jesus Christ. Jesus did not come to give us doctrinal explanations about pain; rather he came to take it quietly upon himself. And this changed the perception of innocent suffering from curse to an instrument of redemption. In fact, the words of prophet Isaiah throw a shining light on this “The punishment reconciling us fell on him, and we have been healed by his bruises” (Is. 53:5). Regarding the innocent suffering, our faith therefore invites us not to worry so much on the causes, on the why we suffer, but on its effects, what arises from such suffering. You remember the episode where Jesus was presented a boy who was born blind, his disciples asked him: “Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he should have been born blind?” (Jn. 9:2), then Jesus answered: “Neither he nor his parents sinned, he was born blind so that the works of God might be revealed in him” (Jn. 9:3). Child of God, what you are passing now maybe manifestation of God’s work in you. Beloved in Christ, How many times have you asked yourself: what did I do wrong that God is punishing me like this? Or why did God allow me to suffer this way? As if pain is always a punishment and a curse. In fact, St. Paul called it a participation in the sufferings of Christ. Each time you suffer innocently and you are tempted to give up, think of what resulted from Christ’s suffering: the resurrection and hope for all mankind. In the first reading, God spoke prophetically about His Christ: “I will make you the light of the nations so that you may bring my salvation to the ends of the earth” But to become the light He was nailed on the Cross. Think about this paradox of faith! On the other hand, Jesus in turn wanted his disciples to be in the world “lambs among wolves” but often times we see the contrary, sometimes we are wolves among other wolves or even worse wolves among lambs.

          The second reading (1Cor. 1:1-3) is the introductory greeting of the epistle. The epistle was addressed to the Church of God, those sanctified in Christ Jesus, and called to be saints. His greeting depicts the form of a Christian greeting: of grace and peace. In this epistle, St. Paul laid emphasis on the universality of the Church, for this he reminded the Corinthians that they are the Church of God in Corinth, and as such, part of the universal Church. He assured them that they are not alone, and again, that they are called to be saints together with all those who call on the name of the Lord Jesus, and he is the Lord of all. St. Paul insisted on this to correct the bad impression or rather understanding of the Corinthians, who thought that they were the only people of God. For this, the apostle made known to them their spiritual progress and problems as well, they attempted to segregate themselves from the whole body, that is the Church.

          Even the Eucharist that we are celebrating summarizes all that we have said. It renders present amongst us the liberating lamb of Exodus, the redeeming lamb of Isaiah “wounded for our transgressions” and the Lamb that John the Baptist presented to his listeners and followers, the Lamb of the Cross and the Lamb seated on the throne waiting for us. The Eucharist renders present and alive all that we have just said. Little wonder, during the time for the reception of the Holy Communion, we will greet Jesus with the same words that John the Baptist used to present Him to the world so many years ago: “Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sins of the world”. The word of God therefore, invites each and every one of us today not only to admire but to imitate John in his ardent and passionate witness for Christ, through our words and deeds. Let us embark on the mandate of giving a convincing witness to the Lamb by touching the lives of the people through our words and action and not by proselytism. And in moments of Suffering may we find strength and inspiration from the ordeals of the innocent lamb that suffered for our sake, Amen!

(Fr. Vitus M.C. Unegbu, SC)

The Pro Nobis Of His Baptism!

(Homily for the Solemnity of the Baptism of the Lord)

          We have celebrated the event of the birth of Jesus with enthusiasm and euphoria. The event of today: the solemnity of the Baptism of Jesus marks the end of the celebration of the anniversary of the historical birth of Jesus: the Christmas tide. The event of the baptism inaugurates the active life of Jesus and by implication the adoption of every Christian as sons and daughters of God. The child Jesus we celebrated in the manger in swaddling clothes, has grown and matured, he is now thirty years and this event marks a choice of a radical decision in his life. With the event of the Baptism, Jesus faces his destiny and mission, he begins the work in realization of the purpose of his incarnation. It was a moment of decision for Jesus, and Jesus courageously accepted Baptism for our sake. The Baptism of Jesus is a decisional stage in the manifestation of Jesus Christ to the world as God, it could be considered as the second epiphany. The events and happenings of his birth might have been long forgotten or buried in the hearts of a very few. After thirty years of silence and a hidden life, Jesus has become a man among others. He was subjected to a rite for sinners, of those who need purification, yet he was Pure and needed no purification.

          The action of the Holy Spirit is central in today’s liturgy, an action that was centered on Jesus of Nazareth. In the event of Baptism the Spirit manifested himself in form of a dove that descended on Jesus, bringing blessings and the irruption of power for the fulfillment of his mission as evidenced in the Gospel, to bring salvation and implant it on earth as Isaiah envisaged in the first reading. In the second reading, while Peter was proposing the Christian kerigma to Cornelius, he started by saying: “God has anointed him with the Holy Spirit and power” (v.38), he was referring to Jesus.

          The first reading (Is. 42:1-4,6-7) is part of the first songs of the Servant of Yahweh in second Isaiah, and the prophecy here deeply influenced the gospel narrative on the Baptism of Jesus. The servant of Yahweh of Isaiah will later be identified with Jesus. The servant “will not cry or lift up his voice, or make it heard in the street; a bruised reed he will not break, and a dimly burning wick he will not quench” (vv. 2-3). Jesus meek and humble of heart comes to call sinners to repentance, however, he calls them with mercy. He scandalized and disappointed those that were expecting a Messiah who will unleash his holy anger and punish sinners and pagans. He will equally surprise his precursor: “Are you the one who is to come?” (Mt. 11:3; Lk. 7:19). St. Paul summarized this aspect of Jesus in his famous letter to the Philippians: “Who, being in the form of God, did not count equality with God something to be grasped. But he emptied himself, taking the form of a slave, becoming as human beings are; and being in every way like a human being” (Phil. 2:6-7). He is indeed the Servant of Yahweh.

           Furthermore, the voice from heaven at the event of the Lord’s Baptism: “with whom i am well pleased” could be considered to be in part, an echo of the words: “in whom my soul delights” of Isaiah 4:1. And, the word “beloved” in the Baptism event maybe an alternative of “chosen one”. Again, the word ‘servant’ in the Isaianic prophecy is in connection with the appellative ‘son’ as revealed in the episode of the Baptism. Little wonder, the evangelists identify the servant with the Son. The second part speaks of the work of the servant. Isaiah evidenced that his work is to establish justice on earth, to be a covenant to Israel and a revelation to the nations, to restore sight to the blind and liberty to captives. These works formed the introductory elements of the beginning of Jesus earthly ministry. In the responsorial psalm, the words of the Psalmist: “The voice of the Lord upon the waters” are suggestive of a voice from heaven at the Baptism of Jesus. This psalm could be considered a psalm of celebration for God’s epiphany at the event of Jesus’ Baptism.         

          The Gospel passage (Mt. 3:13-17) is taken from the narrative of St. Mathew. And Mathew’s account on the event of the Lord’s Baptism differs from the one of Mark. First, we note that at the beginning of the event there was a brief dialogue between Jesus and John. Mathew introduced this because he felt that Jesus’ Baptism by John raised some questions, probably because of the sinlessness of Jesus. However, nothing about this was mentioned in the narrative. In the dialogue that issued between Jesus and John, Mathew inserted the reason for Jesus acceptance of Baptism in the hands of John thus: “it is fitting to fulfill all righteousness”, the word ‘righteousness’ occurred in the prophecy of Isaiah in the first reading: “I have called you in righteousness” (Is. 42:6). For the fulfillment of the purpose of salvation. As a matter of fact, the response of Jesus to John underscores the servant’s Christology. As such, Jesus’ acceptance of John’s Baptism was for the fulfillment of the divine plan, in order to manifest Jesus as the Servant of Yahweh, who is about to begin his mission. At the backdrop of Mathew’s narrative, there is an intent to disclose the Baptism as an Epiphany. Thus, a way of declaring and manifesting to the Church the true identity of Jesus, the Servant of Yahweh, who fulfills the mission of the servant described in Second Isaiah. Therefore, Mathew in his account lays emphasis on Jesus as the servant of Yahweh.

           Indeed, at the heart of the Baptism event is Jesus’ experience of God’s fatherhood and the approval of his sonship. A voice was heard from heaven: “This is my Beloved Son...” Again, the Holy Spirit came upon him (cf. Mk. 1:10; Mt. 3:16; Lk. 3:22). The coming of the Spirit of God serves as a sort of equipment and empowerment for a crucial task. For instance, we remember Othniel (cf. Jdg. 3:10), Gideon (cf. Jdg. 6:34), Jephthah (cf. Jdg. 11:29), Samson (cf. Jdg. 13:25), Saul (cf. 1Sam. 10:10) and the servant of God (cf. Is. 42:1). Interestingly, in the case of the men we mentioned above, the coming of the Spirit was temporarily for a particular task, but for Jesus it was an empowerment and a mandate for life. It is a permanent indwelling. The Father’s voice stands as an approval. The words uttered by the voice of the Father is a quotation from Psalm (2:7) “I will proclaim the decree of Yahweh: He said to me, ‘You are my son, today have i fathered you’”. This particular psalm describes a trying time in the life of the king of the holy people. As such, on hearing the voice Jesus was assured that he is the Messiah, the King sent by God. As a matter fact, the event of Jesus’ Baptism accomplished two things in Him: His self-identification and manifestation, and the reception of his mandate, he was thus, commissioned.     

          The Baptism also inaugurated a new phase in the life of Jesus. He was presented officially to the world by the Father, as the Messiah who speaks and acts authoritatively in His name. This marks the beginning of the public life of Jesus. From this moment Jesus will begin the pronouncement of his so called “You have been told before, but i tell you” and the manifestation of his authority when he speaks, which surprised the scribes and the Pharisees. In fact, in ancient times this marked the beginning of the narration of the life of Jesus. As a matter of fact, St. Mark the first evangelist, in his gospel started with the Baptism of Jesus. Even in the Second reading of today, St. Peter made the baptism of Jesus the beginning of his story: it was during the Baptism that God consecrated Jesus with the Holy Spirit and power.

          Indeed, the Baptism of Jesus is very important because it is linked to the manifestation of the Spirit and the inauguration of a new era. John the Baptist spoke about the two era in this way: i baptize you with water, he will baptize with the Holy Spirit. The descent of the Holy Spirit launches the beginning of redemption. It indicates that new creation has began, because the Spirit has reappeared on the water like at the beginning (cf. Gen 1:2). In the words of St. John: “but the hour is coming -- indeed is already here -- when true worshippers will worship the Father in spirit and truth” (Jn. 4:24). The Holy Spirit was already in Jesus of Nazareth before his birth. For the Holy Spirit descended on Mary, before the one at Jordan. But there it happened in silence and it was less-known. Here instead there is manifestation to the world of the reality of the Spirit. The prophetic and messianic unction of Jesus was made known to the world. At his Baptism Jesus appears as the long-awaited on whom the Spirit of the Lord descended, as it was written by prophet Isaiah.

          Again, the importance of Baptism, more than the manifestation of the Spirit, is also linked to the solemn proclamation of the Father: “This is my beloved Son, listen to him”. The one who made himself a servant has been proclaimed now as a Son (cf. Is. 42:1). Indeed, once again we go back to St. Paul’s letter to the Philippians: “And for this God raised him high, and gave him the name which is above all other names” (Phil. 2:9). This indeed is the apex of the Epiphany, it is no longer a star, but the very voice of the Father, who revealed to the world who Jesus of Nazareth is: the Beloved of the Father. Jesus confirmed by calling God constantly with the name Abba Father. Through his words and actions he manifested the conscience and awareness of being the Son of God and he made us adopted sons and daughters of God. The consequence of this revelation is in the words of the Father: “listen to him” (Mk. 9:7). We have to listen to Jesus who continues to speak to us even till today. He speaks to us through the Gospel, and he speaks to us in the name of the Father. However, this imperative does not just mean paying a momentary attention to him, but it means believing in Him, giving him our adhesion of faith and welcoming Him. As such, Baptism re-proposes to us the double movement we have seen expressed in the episode of the Magi, which is probably the central idea of Epiphany: God comes towards man with the revelation, but man have to go to God with faith.

          Jesus accepted Baptism for our sake, not because of any sin he has committed, but instead our own Baptism is because of sins. Jesus as the Son of God was sinless and so needed no Baptism. According to the CCC 1213, Baptism is a sacrament which cleanses us from original sin, makes us children of God, members of the Church and sharers in her mission. We may well ask: why did Jesus accept Baptism from John? First, he accepted Baptism for the forgiveness of sins, not his own sins, but our own sins. Through his incarnation Jesus made himself similar to us, and by accepting Baptism, he wants to make us similar to Himself, and St. Paul captured it vividly well when he affirms thus: “every one of you that has been baptized has been clothed in Christ” (Gal.3:27). Second, Christ had to be baptized in order to make a way for us, in order to purify the water of baptism in which we ourselves were to be bathed. By accepting to be baptized, Christ purified the water in which we are baptized. Others enter to be purified by the water, He enters to purify the water for us.  Third, Christ identified Himself with the people in their search for God. In other words, Jesus allows Himself to be baptized too because He wants us to feel that He is one with us in our longing and desire for God. His Baptism reveals his solidarity with the sinful humanity. The solidarity he extended even through His Eucharistic presence. The same Jesus that went to John in humility for Baptism is the same Jesus who is mysteriously hidden in the signs of bread and wine. And in every Eucharistic celebration we welcome Him with the same words that John the Baptist used to welcome Him: “Behold the Lamb of God, behold He who takes the sins of the world” (Jn. 1:29).

          In the second reading (Acts 10:34-38) the kerigmatic speeches (preachings) of the early Church are featured. Apart from records of the Gospels, it is this passage and Acts 1:21 that made reference to the Baptism of Jesus. In the Acts of Apostles, the event of Jesus’ Baptism is situated or presented at the beginning of Jesus ministry. In the episode of his Baptism Jesus was anointed with the Holy Spirit and as such, was equipped for his mission. So the performances of Jesus in his ministry of preaching, healing and exorcism are seen as acts of God. Extrapolating from this passage, we can decipher a landmark difference between the preaching of Jesus and the proclamation of the early Church. While Jesus preached about the Kingdom of God, the early Church preached about Jesus. Even though, the difference is not very obvious, however there is a material difference. In preaching the Kingdom of God, Jesus was witnessing to God’s presence through his works and words. And in preaching Jesus, the early Church proclaims that God is present in Jesus’ works and words. Little wonder, the Baptism is another Epiphany, a manifestation of God’s saving presence.

          Above all else, however, the occasion of Jesus’ Baptism is an avenue to reflect over our lives as Christians and possibly ask ourselves what the effects of the Holy Spirit are in our lives since after our Baptism? What are the effects that the Holy Spirit produces in our spiritual and moral life? Indeed, to say it with St. Paul “what you have received was not the spirit of slavery to bring you back into fear; you received the Spirit of adoption, enabling us to cry out, ‘Abba, Father” (Rm. 8:15), and again “The Spirit himself joins our spirit to bear witness that we are children of God” (Rm. 8:16). By means of Baptism a Christian becomes the temple of the Holy Spirit, a place in which He lives and a place from which He wants to render Himself present to man. As such, a Christian by virtue of his Baptism is like a movable Monstrance of the Spirit. Are we conscious and aware of this truth of faith? Doubtlessly, Baptism did two things in the life of Jesus, so it does in our lives too. First, through Baptism we are given a mission like Jesus, we are commissioned with a mandate. Second, we are called to make the Son of God manifest in the world and also we are sent by the power of the Holy Spirit. Through our Baptism we ought to become the Beloved of the Father. Are you truly God’s beloved in words and works? Are you keeping to the promises you made or that were made on your behalf on the day of your Baptism or you are paying allegiance to the Devil? May the Baptism of Jesus we celebrate today revitalize the consciousness for our own Baptism and recharge us with vigour to carry out our mission as children of God and members of the Church. Amen!!!

 (Fr. Vitus M.C. Unegbu, SC)

        

Epiphany: God Steps Into History!

(Homily for Epiphany Sunday-Year A)

          The feast of Epiphany, is a feast of God’s manifestation to man. Epiphany is from the Greek word epiphaneia which means appearance or manifestation, in this case, the manifestation of our Lord Jesus Christ as the Savior of the whole world. For through the visit of the wise men, the universal salvific will of the Father is made manifest. Thus, Epiphany is the feast that celebrates the universality of salvation. The feast originated from the Eastern Church; there it was merely a celebration of the Lord’s Baptism. The Baptism of the Lord was interpreted as the first of his epiphanies or manifestation. Historically, when this feast spread to the West, it began to be celebrated mainly as a commemoration of the visit of the Magi. However, in the Catholic tradition it is identified as the feast of the three Kings. More than that, Epiphany celebrates mainly the self- revelation or manifestation of God to the Gentiles (to non-Jews = the Magi), and this is portrayed by the visit of the three wise men in the Gospel, with the gifts of Gold, Frankincense and Myrrh. Indeed, at the heart of the Epiphany event, at the threshold of the quest of the Magi are three S’s: see, search and submit. These three verbs were programmatic in the search and encounter of the Magi with the New Born King. They embarked on the journey because they wanted to see Him, and for this desire to see Him, they went in search of and for Him, and when the sought and saw Him, they submitted themselves to Him in adoration. These three action words should characterize as well our own journey of faith. Epiphany reminds us that Christmas is a double Feast: the feast of the Birth and the feast of the discovery of Jesus. Little wonder the angel did not conclude the message with "a Child is born for you", he says something more "you will find him". It is not enough to declare that he has been born, more than that, we need to find or discover Him.

           The readings of today converge on the theme of the Christian universalism, thus, the universality of God’s salvation. In Mathew’s Gospel, this universalism is represented by the visit of the magi (the pagan world), who came from the East to adore the New Born Baby (Gospel). In their gesture we see the fulfillment of the prophecy of Isaiah: “At his light all peoples will walk” (first reading). On his part, St. Paul (Second reading) was enabled to receive the mystery of God: “That the gentiles now have the same inheritance and form the same Body and enjoy the same promise in Christ Jesus through the gospel” (Eph. 3:6).

          The first reading (Is. 60:1-6) could be divided into two, while verses 1-3 dwell on the fulfillment of (Is. 40), at the return of the exiles from Babylon to Jerusalem, verses 4-6 are about the prediction of the eschatological pilgrimage of the gentiles to Jerusalem after the reconstruction of the city. Besides, verses 1-3 are symbolic of Christ’s event, and as such the message therein supersedes the return of the exiles from Babylon, the Christ event is the salvific event. This idea is further explicated with the imageries of “light” and “glory”. On the other hand, verses 4-6 presents the response of the gentiles to that revelation, fulfilled through the coming of Christ. And the journey and visit of the Magi is symbolic of this response. More still, verse 6 with its reference to “gold” and “frankincense” influenced in no small way the story of the Magi in (Mt. 2:1-12).

          The second reading (Eph. 3:2-3a.5-6) from the Pauline epistle combines the two basic themes of the first reading and the Gospel: God’s revelation (epiphany) and the participation of the gentiles to the Messianic Salvation, thus the universality of Salvation. St. Paul calls it a mystery, “This mystery, as it is now revealed in the Spirit to his holy apostles and prophets, was unknown to humanity in previous generations” (v.5). Such mystery consists in the call of the gentiles to participate in the same inheritance and form the same body and to be part of the same promise through the Gospel. God is the unity and the inheritance of all peoples, He reveals Himself to all peoples, Jews and Pagans alike. For this, he affirmed “in that image there is no room for distinction between Greek and Jew, between the circumcised and uncircumcised, or between barbarian and Scythian, slave and free. There is only Christ: he is everything and he is in everything” (Col. 3:11). St. Paul undoubtedly spoke about “a mystery”, something inaccessible to the thought and the intellect of man; something that only God, in his love and freedom can reveal to man. Prophet Isaiah had an intuition of this mystery, when he saw all peoples walking towards Jerusalem in order to render cult to Yahweh, the Lord of the nations. 

          In the Gospel reading (Mt. 2:1-12) Mathew presents the episode of the journey and visit of the Magi to the Child Jesus. Mathew regrettably reports that his people did not know when salvation was at hand, but foreigners, the Magi did. The pagans recognized the presence of the Messiah while the Jews did not. It is only in Mathew’s account that we find the story of the three wise men or kings, who came “from the east” to worship the King of the Jews. This account on the Magi’s story gave rise to plausible facts concerning this Divine Child: ►First is the tracing of Jesus’ Davidic descent, which according to the Jews is a qualification for the “messiahship”, “This is the gospel concerning his Son who, in terms of human nature was born a descendant of David” (Rm. 1:3-4a). The importance attached to the infancy narrative of Mathew and Luke throws more light to this. ►Second is the dating of Jesus’ birth (eg. Mathew and Luke) towards the end of Herod the Great’s reign (4.B.C), this too is historically plausible. ►Third, the use of the star as a messianic symbol in the Scriptures, “I see him – but not in the present. I perceive him – but not close at hand: a star is emerging from Jacob, a scepter is rising from Israel” (Num. 24:17). In turn we are also called to become stars that lead others to Jesus. How often do we indicate Jesus to others or enlighten others as a result of our encounter with Him?

          Today’s Gospel in no small way revolves around the adoration of the New Born King by the three wise men, the Magi. In Mathew’s account they observed and followed the star (v.2), which reveals that they had knowledge of astrology. Again, we are told that they came from the east, this implies that they came from Mesopotamia, which according to the Hellenist world is known to be home for astrologists. However, it is worthy to note that this Gospel is not just about the Magi, rather the One who has been born, the King of the Jews. Jesus was born at the fullness of time or better when the time was fulfilled (cf. Gal. 4:4). At that point in time people were longing for the Messiah, despite this longing, which for some was real, and for others was apparent, in today’s Gospel we see different categories of people and their reactions about his birth and presence:

■Herod, the king was blocked by seeing Jesus because of his suspicion. The birth of Jesus meant insecurity for him. Little wonder, he killed whoever he suspected to be a rival. Thus, his reaction towards Jesus was that of hostility.

■The Chief priests and the scribes, this group reacted differently. They were indifferent to the presence of Jesus, they didn’t care. They were busy with their affairs in the temple and legal dealings. Probably, they were afraid of King Herod, little wonder, they handed him the information and remained unmoved. They did not even dare to lead the Magi. They remained unmoved in Jerusalem, but Jesus was found in the poverty of Bethlehem.

■The Magi, were learned people, but their knowledge did not get over their head. As such, their reaction was that of openness and acceptance. The magi represent the whole human race, people of every language and colour who set out to adore Jesus. And in this event, the prophecy that will adore and bring Him gifts is fulfilled (Ps. 72:10). To find Jesus we need to search for Him with faith, to find Him we need to pass through Jerusalem as the Magi did, here Jerusalem stands to symbolize the Church. In that sense, the journey of the Magi is a symbol of an itinerary of faith. When they found Jesus, they adored him and offered him gifts: Gold, Frankincense and Myrrh. 

           Be that as it may, the Magi did not present mere gifts to the King; rather the three gifts they offered to Him were replete and beaming with significance: Gold: symbolizes a gift for Kings, denoting his Kingship. It was indeed a sign of their sincere and total love. Frankincense: the ancient people used it for religious worship, and it points to gods and divinity. It is therefore a symbol of the divinity of Christ. The Magi used it to adore Him. Myrrh: in the ancient world myrrh was used to prepare dead bodies. On the Cross Jesus was offered wine mingled with myrrh (cf. Mk. 15:23). And his body was anointed with myrrh for burial (cf. Jn.19:39). For instance, we remember the women that came with myrrh to the tomb of Jesus to anoint his body (cf. Mk. 16:1). This depicts the vulnerability of the human nature that Jesus assumed. This gift is therefore symbolic of Jesus’ humanity

          The prophecy of Isaiah was fulfilled in the episode of the arrival of the Magi to Jerusalem, and in turn we could equally say that the Gospel is the fulfillment of his prophecy that “at his light all peoples will walk”, and the Magi did follow the star. Therefore, with the fulfillment of this prophecy, God’s revelation brings to their realization various novelties of great importance: ●That the center of the nations is not a city (Jerusalem) but a person: Jesus, the Messiah and Lord, born in Bethlehem. ●The journey towards this center will not be only for the Jews, but for all, Jews and pagans alike. ●The people will not converge to Jerusalem to render cult to Yahweh in the temple, but in Bethlehem to adore a Baby in the arms of his Mother Mary.

          The passage of the Gospel gives us a wonderful indication on how to locate Christ, the Savior, and that is as the magi have demonstrated, through openness and disposition of heart, with the sincere desire of having the knowledge of the truth without prejudice. Similarly, there are as well obstacles that may hinder us from locating and encountering Christ, the Savior. First, is fear, fear of encountering one who overhauls our life. For if you encounter Christ you have to change your orientation and criterion of judgment.  Second, is servility to the powers that be, as it happened to the religious leaders in the time of Jesus, who were slaves to the political power of Herod. The powers that be today could be ideologies, dominant current of thoughts contrary to the Gospel. Third, is ambition for power, as it happened with Herod, and attachment to the things of this world. We need to liberate ourselves from the things of this world and personal prestige, allow ourselves to be guided and led by the light that comes from above (as the Magi allowed themselves to be led by the star).

         In all, the red thread that runs through the readings of today is the revelation of God in Christ and the universality of God’s Salvation. The Epiphany inaugurates a new direction, a new route. They went home through a new road because they were enlightened by God, and that new way is Jesus. Jesus in the event of the Epiphany gives us a new way and a new direction. He offers himself as the Savior of all, without exception. What have we to offer Him in return? The magi presented Gold, Frankincense and Myrrh. The journey of the Magi might be taken as an expression of man’s religious quest, and as such man as capax Dei, to say it with St. Augustine. The question that should stem from our hearts is whether we still have this religious zeal and quest today? Do we still have the quest for God? What is our own reaction to this New Born King, is it that of hostility, indifference, or concern and love? That of the Magi was love and adoration, even me today I have come to adore him. What of you? Let us join the Magi in this marvelous and admirable Adoration of the New Born King! Come let us adore the leading-Star!! Come let us adore the Light that enlightens all men and makes them one!!! Let us pray asking God to enable us to seek Him with a sincere heart like the Magi, no matter the distance and what it may cost. Amen!

(Fr. Vitus M.C. Unegbu, SC)