Friday, December 31, 2010

Solemnity of the Epiphany of the Lord

"No one has ever seen God.
The only-begotten Son, God, who is at the Father’s side,
has revealed him." John 1:18

This is a point that gets so easily lost in our lives. We hear this so often, especially around the Christmas and Easter seasons. God has become man. It is through the life of Jesus Christ that God has become physically manifest to us. We are able to know God because He was one of us. Yet, all of these phrases, which were once rallying points for early Christians have now become part of the humdrum of our daily lives. Yes, Jesus was God. Yes, God became man. Yes, Jesus saved us from our sins. Truly though, if we actually believe what we are saying; if what the Apostles have passed down to us is true; what does that mean for our lives? Does that change the way we live?

I heard once that "if we believe in a truth, than it would be nothing short of a lie to live other than in that truth." (Unfortunately, I don't recall where I heard it) That is to say, do our lives change knowing, and believing, that Jesus Christ was God (and man) among men. Should our hearts not burn to live out that Truth? That God has been revealed to us also implies that His precepts has been shown to us. We are now the ones trusted with bringing that message to the world. Many have died to deliver that news, both emotionally and physically. Where do we stand? What have we given up to live out this joyous message?

This season, we have a great joy set before us: God has become man, and dwelt among us!

"Let the heavens be glad and the earth rejoice;
let the sea and what fills it resound;
let the plains be joyful and all that is in them!
Then shall all the trees of the forest exult before the LORD." Psalm 96:11-12

reflected by Matthew Keppel

No comments:

Post a Comment