Father Bill says...the Feast of the Epiphany

to: all of my friends
from: Father Bill Muench

A sincere Happy New Year to you all

This past week was a time for visiting for me – and it was a sensational week – many great opportunities to see family and friends – I celebrated Mass at my brother, Tom’s home – my sister-in-law, Mary Lee, is still going through the chemo-business. And on one evening, I took my great-nieces and nephew to the movies – that was truly a fun experience – I don’t get to see them enough – I got home to discover a delightful letter from a great niece who lives in New Mexico – then lots of football and a great hockey game.

NEW YEARS – I am not good at making resolutions – or maybe its keeping resolution – I have lots of hopes and dreams for the New Year. New Years Day is designated as a Day of prayer for Peace by Our Holy Father – could this be the year for peace. Could this be the time that we can stop worrying that our young people, that my great nieces and nephews, will never have to go to war. This is my prayer. This is my hope – and I will never give up in that hope – don’t tell me it is senseless – I simply can’t give up.


EPIPHANY – this feast is designated as the twelfth day of Christmas – but this year is celebrated on Sunday, January 3rd – this is the major Christmas feast in the East – as for the Orthodox. The message of the story of the magi is that Christ came for all peoples – the Gentiles as well as for his own people. The Scriptures for our feast mention this – Isaiah says, “Caravans of camels shall fill you, dromedaries from Midian and Ephan; all from Sheba shall come bearing gold and frankincense, and proclaiming the praises of the Lord.” St. Paul writes to the Ephesians, “The Gentiles are coheirs, members of the same body, and copartners in the promise of Christ Jesus through the Gospel.”

This message of the Epiphany is central to our faith as Christians and Catholics – Gentiles came searching and found Christ – and from the very beginning Jesus came for all – rich and poor, saint and sinner, Jew and Gentile. So we are called – all of us – to follow Jesus, to walk with Jesus, to live like Jesus in love and peace. And the final call is to unity – we must discover each other, work with each other and be united with each other.

The story of the magi is a story of a journey – following a star – not completely certain but never losing faith. Our lives are a journey – we search – as the magi did – for meaning, for something meaningful, for something new. And we look for that star that will lead us – each of us has our own stars – those important and wonderful people who are such an important part of our lives – and hopefully along the way we discover Jesus – who becomes the true star that shows us the way to fill our lives with the spirit and love and peace that make us good people, indeed, saints. And by the way – hopefully – we become a star to others – to lead them to life and love and peace – to lead them to Jesus.

LET US PRAY

Almighty God, my Father, walk with me as I walk on my journey to find Jesus – to let Jesus be part of my life – to live as Jesus lived. With you, God, I will never get lost. This is my prayer. Amen.

Please join me as say the Lord’s Prayer together.

P.S. – I just heard of a story of people getting lost while using a GPS – may your GPS be Jesus.