St. Anthony's Catholic Church

Fr. Matt’s Corner:… but upon you the LORD shines.. . .

          Mary Christmas, everyone!!! Today, on this Feast of Epiphany, we come to the final celebration of the Christmas season – but that doesn't have to mean that we cease to come to the Christ Child and His mother with that special sense of wonder and awe. In fact, the more we look at this great gift of Christmas, the more wonderful and strange it appears. Take today's gospel of the journey of the Magi, for instance.

          Such strange characters! What could have induced them to leave their homes and businesses and families in order to undertake an arduous and dangerous journey – braving desert wilderness, bandits and robbers, foreign kings and soldiers, storms and famine – for what? To follow some star that they think may lead them to a new king? What business is it of theirs anyway, if a new king is born over in some little out-of-the-way foreign country out west? As far as we know, they didn't have any direct message from an Angel like Mary or Joseph or those shepherds – telling them what was going on. What were they thinking?

          Have you ever felt a little tug on your heartstring? Or have you ever stopped to wonder what it's all about anyway? Or have you ever been broken down or broken-hearted and at the bottom of that pit? Or have you ever known in the depths of your being that your life must take this path? I think that something like this (perhaps to an extreme) must have been what drove these strange wise men to do what they did. They followed a star to seek a King – but not just any king. This King is the one that they somehow knew beyond knowing (what faith!!!) would be the answer to their questions and pains, and so they would seek Him out regardless of the ridicule and opposition (from friends, neighbors, and kings – like Herod).

          These three remind me of one of my favorite musicals – about Don Quixote de la Mancha – who sings a song about an Impossible Dream. “This is my quest: to follow that star; no matter how hopeless; no matter how far. To fight for the right without question or pause; to be willing to march into Hell for a Heavenly cause.” I think that's part of what Christmas is – or ought to be – for us: an Impossible Dream that came (and comes) true. Jesus Christ was willing to march from Heaven into Hell for a Heavenly cause – because God so loved the world. And so now, upon you the LORD shines. The question remains, will you dare to go where this Great Star leads?

          Peace to all of you, my friends, this Holy Day, and to all who love the Lord in simplicity of heart,

Fr. Matt