Reading the Signs (2011-01-02, Epiphany)

This is my homily for 2 January 2011, Epiphany Sunday. I am the Catholic campus minister for Fairleigh Dickinson University (FDU) campus and for the FDU Newman Catholic Association. We resume our Sunday Mass (7:30 p.m.) on Sun. Jan. 23, 2011.

[__01__ ] In this beautiful proclamation of the date of Easter, we are reading ahead, to see what is coming next in our lives. Reading is not something of passive stillness. Reading is something we do to understand. Reading is the way we receive information.

Reading is action.

For example,
• a musician reads music, while playing
• a quarterback or point guard reads the defense while passing the ball
• and, the Magi (The 3 Kings) are reading the star in the sky while moving closer and closer to Bethlehem.

We are always reading signs and signals – you and I read each other’s signs and body language and spoken language.

[Is the other person available? / Does he or she want to talk? / Is someone in a hurry? We read each other for signs. ]

[__02__ ] The signs – what we read – are not 100% accurate. We can’t believe everything we read, can we?

King Herod, in the Gospel, for example, indicates enthusiasm, piety, respect for the Christ Child. Herod arranges some type of secret rendezvous with the magi, an encounter in which he seems to reveal the truth –

“Herod called the magi secretly and ascertained from them the time of the star’s appearance. He sent them to Bethlehem and said, ‘Go and search diligently for the child. When you have found him, bring me word that I may go and do him homage.’ ” (Matthew 2:7-8)

But in these words alone, the magi do not learn the truth about Herod. They need another sign which comes to them in the dream. This new sign guides their way and helps them to protect the life of our newborn king.

[__03 __ ] The Feast of the Epiphany reminds us that Jesus is now known, manifested, recognized.

This is what we mean by the word – epiphany – a manifestation. Making known the birth of Christ, we also relate this to death and resurrection of Christ – both as a date on the calendar in the future and a place in our hearts.

The Magi open and read the Good News when they see the face of Christ. They have also entered Jesus into their calendar.

[__04__ ] Coming to Sunday Mass, we are hear to read the Good News, to hear the Good News and to let Jesus be known to us and to discover him.

Jesus is not only the light shining the sky. He is meant to be the light in our hearts – as we read in the Psalms– that what we read guides us on our way –

“a lamp to my feet is your word, a light to my path” (Psalm 119:105)

This is also a risk. It may be easier, at times, not to read the signs or not to make the signs so clear in our lives.

Do I want others to know my understand me, read me, know me completely?

Epiphany reminds us of the manifestation of Jesus and to consider that his mercy helps us to become who we really are.

This may, also, mean that our faults become known in the process.

In the Gospel, this is also true –

• The sins of the tax collectors are made known and forgiven – Jesus says to Zacchaeus – “salvation has come to this house today”

• The sins of the woman are made known and forgiven – Jesus says – “then, neither do I condemn you.”

• And, for Peter the Apostle, the same is true. Peter has read ahead in the book, done all his homework and identified Jesus as Lord and Messiah before all others. Yet, he also denies him 3 times on the night of his arrest. After this denial, however, Peter turns back. This is a personal epiphany [discovery] for Peter.

The Lord has mercy both on those who read his word and those who occasionally forget what they have read.

The Lord has mercy on the sinner and invites them into the light. We are also called to have mercy on others … based on what we read and see. This may also invite us to put aside what we see in our first glance … to put aside prejudice as well.

[__05__ ] This week, our Catholic Church pauses to pray especially for those for whom the book of life and the door of life are closed. They may not want to be read and manifested and recognized.

This week is National Migration Week, when we pray for and remember immigrants, migrants, refugees, workers, undocumented workers in our own country.

During National Migration Week, we remember the importance of welcoming the stranger, the widow, the orphan.

Our immigration system is undergoing reform. This has been the subject of great debate in Washington D.C. and in other countries.

There is much work that needs to be done.

For example, there are families in which parents have a number children and some of their children are “legal” and some are “illegal” based on where the child was born.

[__06__ ] Illegal status makes someone an outsider. It makes someone even a criminal. But, that is a sign which is also not 100% accurate.

We are called to be careful how we read the signs and use the signs of life.

The Feast of Epiphany reminds us that Jesus, Mary and Joseph were also refugees, seeking asylum. Temporarily they go into hiding in Egypt. But, ultimately, they want to settle and to be known.

God does not want to keep them in hiding. Nor does he wish for us to be hidden.

To come out of hiding, to find a home, to have a relationship, we read signs.
Sometimes, we avoid reading the message of love or we avoid showing mercy to the other.

Rather than reading “mercy”, we find fault and we “read them their rights” and find them guilty.

We are called on this Feast of Epiphany to remember that God makes his mercy and love known first, through the Christ Child.

And, we are called to show this mercy and love others . This includes the immigrant, migrant, the refugee, those who cannot yet come to the light. [__end__]