By Fr. Roy Cimagala *
WITH the celebration of the Solemnity of the Epiphany of Christ, we are actually left with an invitation that can very well be a big challenge for us who profess to believe in Christ. This is none other than the duty to show or reveal Christ, as he is, to others.
Epiphany means to manifest or to reveal. It’s Christ revealing himself as he is in all his Christological and soteriological nature to the whole world. Making use of the visit of the three kings to the child Jesus, Epiphany is the feast that reminds us that Christ is not only for the Jews but also for everyone, not only for a few but also for all.
It’s a feast that reminds us that Christ is the Son of God, the second person of the Blessed Trinity who became man for our salvation. He is actually everything to us. He is the way, the truth and the very life for us. He is the very pattern of our humanity. How we ought to be is defined for us by him.
So, this is the big challenge. How can we present Christ to others as he is with our presence, words and deeds? A tall order, indeed!
This Solemnity reminds us that we, Christian believers, should imitate the three magi in undertaking a search for Christ in the world, guided by the star of our faith.
Like the magi, we too should also make our search for Jesus amid the many confusing and even hostile elements of the world. Let’s proceed with our daily adventure of looking for Christ in all corners of the world, in all moments of the day and in all circumstances of our life. Let’s not be afraid. God never abandons us and will guide us in his own mysterious ways. Let’s just be game.
Like the magi, we too should bring our precious gifts which in the end are not just a matter of things, no matter how valuable they are, but rather of giving our whole life, our whole mind and heart, our whole selves to him.
We can be sure that whatever generosity we show Christ will always pale in comparison to the generosity he will shower on us. Let’s not be sparing in making that deal.
Let’s learn to undertake this lifelong adventure of looking for Christ, training ourselves to see him in everything and in everyone, and in all the situations and circumstances of our life, whether they be good or bad according to our human standards.
Let’s keep ourselves from straying from this path that is proper for us. Let nothing or no one lead us astray. We are actually sufficiently guided and protected. Things would just depend on us, whether we correspond to God’s will and ways or not.
Everyday, we can make some kind of plan, something doable and not just theoretical, that would help us concretely and effectively in looking for Christ. In this, let us try to assume the attitude once described by St. Paul:
“Forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.” (Phil 3,13) Yes, indeed, we have to have the mind of an athlete in looking for Christ. We should not be complacent in this duty.
* Chaplain Center for Industrial Technology and Enterprise (CITE), Talamban, Cebu City
Email: roycimagala@gmail.com
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