Fr. Mike explores the mystery of Jesus’ infancy and hidden life. We first take a look at Jesus’ Baptism, circumcision, and the Epiphany. Fr. Mike discusses that Jesus’ circumcision shows us that salvation comes from the Jews. The Epiphany shows us that salvation does not stop there, it extends to all of us. Later, we examine Jesus’ hidden life. Fr. Mike emphasizes the importance of Jesus’ obedience to not just his Father in Heaven, but to his earthly father and mother as well, and how we can imitate that obedience. Today’s readings are Catechism paragraphs 527-534.
13 Then Jesus appeared: He came from Galilee to the Jordan to be baptised by John. 14 John tried to dissuade Him, with the words, ‘It is I who need baptism from You, and yet You come to me!’ 15 But Jesus replied, ‘Leave it like this for the time being; it is fitting that we should, in this way, do all that uprightness demands.’ Then John gave in to Him. 16 And when Jesus had been baptised He at once came up from the water, and suddenly the heavens opened and He saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and coming down on Him. 17 And suddenly there was a voice from heaven, ‘This is my Son, the Beloved; my favour rests on Him.’
Today is the Epiphany which is a Greek word that means manifestation and revelation. There are many of them in Scripture. Next week we will commemorate another epiphany – the baptism of our Good Lord. Today is also called the “Little Christmas” because this is when gifts were given to Christ. It is also a day in which people start taking down their Christmas decorations although some people probably have already taken them down. The Sacristans will soon remove the Manger, but the poinsettias will stay for a while until they start dropping petals which really drives me nuts. But it’s sad when they take all that stuff away, especially the Manger or the creche because it calls to mind a lot of things. However, the highest act of love did not happen on Christmas. It happened at His Passion, death, and resurrection. And that is why He came.
Church is a “what” but it is also a “Who.” Remember in the Book of Acts, Christ said, “Paul, why are you persecuting Me?” He didn’t say, “Paul, why are you persecuting the people who tithe and who helped build the buildings.” He said, “Why are you persecuting Me?” The Church is Christ. Therefore, the Manger is the “Little Church.” By the way, according to Scripture, the family lived in a house. They were not poor – they had a house. The Manger scene is visible scripture and visible theology. Because Christ is present, it is Christology (the study of Who Christ is). Because the Manger is the Little Church, it is also Ecclesiology (the study of what the Church is). It teaches us about the Church.
More is revealed through the gifts given by the Magi (the wise men and kings from the East). They gave Him gold because He is king. They gave Him frankincense because He is God. Remember the Jews used incense at the altar in the temple. In Revelation, incense is present before the throne of God. So, using incense is scriptural. I use it sparingly and not like in a military gas chamber. But if you have a cold, get near the incense and it will clear you right up. Incense portrays that our Lord is visibly present. And finally, the Magi gave our Lord myrrh, a burial spice, because of why He came.
Who do you find around Jesus? They were all gathered around and looking at Jesus. They weren’t talking about the latest political scandals. They prostrated themselves…they didn’t stand and pray… they prostrated themselves as you do before God. Their faces were in the dirt. But who was there? You find the pure – the Blessed Mother and Saint Joseph who are pure of heart. You find the simple – the shepherds who knew they were ignorant and knew nothing. They were humble and followed God’s directions like Saint Joseph did. And you find the wise men who were astrologers and kings from the East. They were truly educated. What is the best fruit of an education? Is it having a bunch of initials after your name? Is it having a Mensa card in your wallet? The best fruit of an education is realizing that you don’t know everything. Even with everything you have learned in the past, there is so much more to learn. You have just scratched the surface. The more you learn the more you realize how ignorant you are. The wise men realized how ignorant they were, and that’s why they came. They came to be in the presence of Christ. And that is who you will always find around Christ – the holy, the simple, and the wise.
The Manger is the Church, and it is a beautiful thing to have in your home. Everything is right there in the Manger and very teachable. So, as you put the Manger scene away for the next 48 weeks or so, remember that you have a beautiful library stashed away. It is a beautiful meditation on what our Faith is.
How will you apply this message to your life? ________________________________________
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As you may already know, the word “epiphany” means a manifestation or revelation. There have been other epiphanies which are a revelation of who God is. By our own reason, we can come to the knowledge of God through natural law and reason, but that only gets us so far. God has to reveal Himself as He did in Genesis so that we can come to love Him. We cannot gain knowledge of Him without His help. He made prudent use of the Wise Men to reveal Who His son was.
Remember who Jesus is…the second person in the Blessed Trinity. He was one “Who” but He was also two “What’s.” He was one person which is the “Who,” and two “What’s” which are His two natures, human and divine. We only have a human nature. That’s all we have; it doesn’t get any better than that. Jesus had both a human and divine nature. His human nature He took from the Blessed Mother and is the one He suffered with and that was assumed and lost in His divine nature. This is shown in the Mass. I put one drop of water in the chalice of wine, not more and not less. If I don’t put just one drop of water into the chalice, the Mass is invalid because that is a symbol of Christ’s humanity being assumed and lost in His divinity. Our eventual goal is to know who He is…King of the Universe. The Jews worshiped God and offered incense in the Temple. We use frankincense which symbolizes God. Read the Old Testament. Read Revelation in the New Testament. Incense is the prayers of God’s holy people. That’s why we use it in church. It is scriptural prayer. He was presented with myrrh because He was God. Myrrh was used in burials and represented His coming into the world to die so that we may have an opportunity to get to Heaven. So, this is a Christological feast.
Our good Lord reveals Himself so that you can know His Son. The Wise Men revealed our response to His great love. They came from a far distance. We don’t know how far they came or from where. It could have been from Aquadale, but it was a long distance. Travel back then was very dangerous. When the Wise Men came, they left everything to find Jesus. They risked everything to find Him. They came to worship and knelt in His presence. The Wise Men were in the presence of the King, and they knelt in a posture of prayer. This is our response, whether convenient or inconvenient, to come see God’s great presence. The Wise Men were no more blessed than we are. We have God made present. Yes, the Wise Men saw God in the guise of a child. We see God in the Blessed Sacrament in the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass. But we see the same God. How do I love Thee, God?
Father’s Afterthoughts: I am still very, very tired, and the nurses tell me this could last for a while. One of the symptoms of my illness has been insomnia. I have been blessed to have so many wonderful people in my parish and also family and friends. They have all been concerned and called to ask how I’m doing. And I may not have handled that very well. I had a beautiful chance for long-suffering patience, and I think I blew it most of the time. Well, think about it. A couple of people would call and ask how I’m doing and then want to chat. Shut up! My cousin called and asked, “How are you doing?” I told her I was resting at which point she wanted to chat. Shut-up! I’m sick! I do this for a living, trust me. You don’t stay long; it’s not a discussion. Eventually, one of my cousins by-passed me and asked Lori how I was doing. One of my chaplain friends at the hospital who I’ve known for 33 years and served with overseas was asked by the nurses if he had called me. He told them he texted me every few days. He’s sick. He’s a soldier – just leave him alone. They occasionally walk by the house and if there’s no smell, they know he’s okay. So, if I have been short with anyone and been in anything but perfect character, I do apologize and ask for your forgiveness. Illness is not an excuse, nor does it develop character. It reveals it. So, please forgive me.
How will you apply this message to your life?
You can read all of Father Fitzgibbons’ sermons by going to https://annunciationcatholicalbemarle.com/ and clicking on “Blog” then “Categories” and then “Sermon Notes.” Sermon notes can also be found on the church Facebook page by searching for “Facebook Our Lady of the Annunciation Albemarle”
Let’s try to talk about the Transfiguration here—although surely in vain, since this is one of those passages that refuses to be “talked about,” as Jesus himself commands when they descend from their mountaintop experience. The stage is fully set for encounter and for divine intimacy. The “apparition” includes the two symbolic figures of Judaism—the law and the prophets—and the two halves of life—Moses and Elijah. Then Jesus appears between them “in dazzling white” that is always the inclusion of everything, all colors, as it were. After this awesome and consoling epiphany, there is clear mention of “a cloud that overshadows” everything. We have what appears to be full light, yet there is still darkness. Knowing, yet not knowing. Getting it, and yet not getting it at all. Isn’t that the very character of all true Mystery and every in-depth encounter?
The verbal messages are only two: “Beloved Sonship” and “Don’t talk about it.” Clearly Peter, James, and John experienced Jesus’ beloved sonship, but also their own—in being chosen for such a mountaintop moment. Peter’s response is the response of everyman and everywoman, “How good it is to be here!” yet it also expresses an emotion that is described as being “overcome with fear or awe”—exactly what Lutheran theologian Rudolf Otto called the “mysterium tremendum,” wondrous fascination and attraction together with a stunning sense of one’s own littleness and incapacity, both at the same time! That is what holy moments always feel like: I am great beyond belief and I am a little dot in the universe. This experience only needs to happen once, just as it did for Peter, James, and John. That is enough. It will change everything. It is available to all, and I believe, offered to all, at one time or another. You cannot program it, but you can ask for it and should expect it. You will never be able to talk about it, nor do you need to. Your ordinary shining life, different now down in the valley, will be its only and best proof.
