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Greetings, SBT Readers:
With a background in spirituality/ theology/ literature, it is not surprising that I gravitate towards epiphanies. Like many of you, my first exposure to the term came from celebrating the Feast of the Epiphany, the feast commemorating the visit of the Magi to the humble birthplace of the Child Jesus in Bethlehem. According to tradition (Mt 2:1-12), astronomers from the East had witnessed astrological phenomena that indicated the birth of a mighty ruler; moreover, since prophetic texts supported their celestial observations, they went in search of the newborn king to pay him homage. What they found, in the glory of straw, was the Holy Child, the Star of Jacob. In effect, they witnessed a manifestation of the Divine—a theophany!
On a personal level, I feel very connected to this infancy narrative. It was on January 5, 1973, that, having boxed up my possessions to send by post and having packed the largest suitcase I could find, I left my Mediterranean home with a brand-new B. A. (Hons.) in English, as the “souvenir” bride of an American Peace Corps volunteer. Arriving in Chicago the next day – the Feast of the Epiphany—to sub-zero temperatures, I experienced instant culture shock along with acute homesickness -- both exacerbated by the knowledge that I could not return home, even if I wanted to. No need for details here but having married against my parents' wishes, there was no going back. At the same time, however, I sensed that like the Magi, I was on a journey of spiritual and intellectual discovery; somehow, their story was my story. That thought was comforting, especially in those dark, dark moments when my Star seemed to have vanished or at least lost its brilliance…
It has been 50 years...
Epiphany Blessings!
Elizabeth
SUNDAY REFLECTION
Link to Readings
After their audience with the king they set out. And behold, the star they had seen at its rising preceded them, until it stopped over the place where the child was. They were overjoyed at seeing the star, and, upon entering the house, saw the child with Mary his mother. They prostrated themselves and paid him homage. Then they opened their treasures, offering him gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh. Having been warned in a dream not to return to Herod, they departed for their country by another way. Mt 2:1-12
Not everyone can find their star let alone follow it; few even know that such a star exists, and not many even care.... Sadly, the pressures of society and the hardships that come our way can block our view of the heavens, clouding our belief in possibility or even in a divinely governed universe. We tend to define tragedy in terms of death, loss, natural disasters, warfare, accidents, and ill health; however, it is also tragic to think of the countless hours that we waste surfing the net, engaging with social media, shopping online, watching TV, or deadening our brains in myriad ways -- in other words, in what I call "statistical living." Matthew Arnold, the C20th English poet, describes one version of such a life in his poem, The Unknown Citizen. His subject is an exemplary citizen who works in a factory, goes to war when drafted, pays his dues, causes no disturbances, marries on time, produces children on time, pays for his appliances on time, holds the right opinions, reads the daily newspaper and is appropriately insured. The poem concludes with the following lines: "Was he free? Was he happy? The question is absurd: Had anything been wrong, we should certainly have heard."
This nameless individual has learned to conform to society's expectations but has ceased to wonder, to dream, or to go in search of his star. Instead, he has led an "unexamined life," following neon lights instead of heavenly lights, content to stay home instead of taking off on adventures, always letting others dictate how he should spend his time. If he is religious, this is more of a cultural commitment than a love affair with the Holy One: he crosses himself, recites prayers, receives the sacraments but keeps God at a safe distance. Meanwhile, his star twinkles brightly overhead, unobserved, while the holy place to which it points remains devoid of visitors.
On this Feast of the Epiphany, what wisdom might the holy travelers wish to share with us? I suspect they would encourage us to look beyond the material universe to discover where Mystery is inviting us. They would urge us to leave behind our comfort zones and to travel where Light beckons, each embracing our own unique journey. And they would assure us that the star assigned to us at birth will guide us to wherever we are meant to be, no matter how far we have to travel. It is the one journey that matters...
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