“Rise up!” are the first words we hear proclaimed to us this Sunday! “Rise up in splendor, Jerusalem!” Isaiah tells us on this feast of the Epiphany, the arrival of the traditional three kings. Isaiah’s words sound fresh to me. I believe him. Of course we always hear in our scriptures words of hope and examples of how we should overthrow darkness, both our sinfulness and our hardships, but, after this tumultuous past year, I think we should meditate on our splendor of being the people of God.
“Rise up!” Not a bad New Year’s resolution, actually. Yes, we should rise up, not in defiance, though that may be required one day; not in vanity, which is never required; but, in satisfaction. With the arrival of our visitors, our magi, God’s arrival on Earth — His shocking humility in the incarnation is made public. This small Christmas story between these poor young adult parents and local peasants is now made global. The story is out: Christ is with us! And, like the magi, we are given the example of what to do with God’s immense love for us. Rise up in splendor, exalt our Lord, and serve Him and others through Him!
If we are making resolutions this year, let’s make them a revolution of resolutions. Let’s not just make commitments to ourselves, but to our community and our parish. What is your resolution for OLMC? Should we commit more time to our neighbors? Should we lift up a particular community in need? What is our resolution for our world? I’m going to follow that star and celebrate with the whole, diverse, beautiful, complicated world this Epiphany. Yes, the story is out: Christ is with us!
Feliz día de Reyes!
I’ll be seeing you,
Elliot