Epiphany

Epiphany (according to Merrium-Webster)

1.       January 6 observed as a church festival in commemoration of the coming of the Magi as the first manifestation of Christ to the Gentiles or in the Eastern Church in commemoration of the baptism of Christ

2.       An appearance or manifestation especially of a divine being

3.       A (1): a usually sudden manifestation or perception of the essential nature or meaning of something

    (2): an intuitive grasp of reality through something (such as an event) usually simple and striking

    (3): an illuminating discovery, realization, or disclosure

 B: a revealing scene or moment

 

This morning we attended our regular 10 am Mass at our home parish, St. Patrick’s in Hutto where we celebrated the feast of the Epiphany. This is known to many as “three kings day”, or the day the star led the three wise men to baby Jesus. Our pastor is on a well-deserved vacay, so presiding over Mass was visiting priest Fr. Charles McMillin (also known as Father Mac) who is always a delight.

He mentioned in his homily how we were celebrating the feast of the Epiphany today but that we honestly get to experience an Epiphany every single week during the consecration. Look again at that second definition of Epiphany according to Webster. We get to be present, in real time, as our Lord is made available to us in the Eucharist. (!!!) How quick we are to let distractions water down the significance of what is on the altar, am I right?

I couldn’t help but to feel the weight of this grace as Father Mac reminded me of the miracle of the Mass. I was also feeling the grace of my surroundings in that church building.

I was able to experience some other lovely epiphanies during that Mass and after . . .

One was enjoying the charm of the two babies in my view, one two rows ahead, one four. The blond boy four rows up looked to be around 8 months old with little teeth coming in and deep dimples in each of his cheeks. He was grinning at someone behind him and his smile was contagious. I noticed a sweet floral headband framing the tiny face of a baby girl two rows ahead as she rested on her mother’s shoulder. I thought of a time another priest told us that many lack the emotional intelligence to appreciate the little ones around us. I know the world will shout the burden and inconvenience of children – how grateful I am to attend a church in which they are welcomed and cherished. (Father Mac even mentioned how he loved hearing the little ones after he gave the announcements.) This gratitude for our littlest parishoners illuminated the love that God has for all of us.

Another epiphany was what I felt after meeting a man right before Mass who sat behind us named Jeff. Jeff told us he was at Mass for the first time in 50 years. You read that right – 50 years. He asked for me to pray for the soul of his wife, Shirley, who just passed away. I told him I would pray for her and for him and that I was glad he was back at Mass. What a privilege, I thought, to pray for them both. What a gift I’ve been given to carry these petitions to our Lord! (will you take a quick minute to pray for Jeff and Shirley, too?) This moment, too, and this feeling illuminated again the love that God has for all of us.

The epiphanies continue, friends. These moments of “illuminating discoveries, or realizations.”

I’ve started writing this blog post from the bowling alley as my 11-year-old plays a game with her friends to celebrate her birthday, which was this past week. I brought a little notebook to jot these thoughts down. What a gift to celebrate 11 years of my beautiful third child. What a gift she has in her sweet friends! 

When I dropped off her friends, one of the friend’s mother’s gifted me this little sign.

She said she saw it and thought of me because of my work. I work for a non-profit and we help families in crisis. It’s hard, and the past few weeks have been especially trying. But she gifted me this today and I couldn’t help but realize this was an answer to my own prayer of being reminded that what I do each day is good, and worth it.

Maybe it's obvious by now but I'm feeling lots of joy today. JOY is a grace and it is freely available through Christ. Pray for it and you will see. I have faith that just as the star brought the wise men to Jesus, there will be an area of your life that illuminates where He is for you. 

I pray you feel it BIG today as I am. I pray that you have a wonderful feast of the Epiphany!

 

Until next time . . .