SALVATION IS OFFERED TO ALL

FEAST OF EPIPHANY: Mt. 2:1-12; Ep 3:2-3,5-6

We celebrate this Sunday the great feast of Epiphany, which celebrates Jesus being recognised and accepted as Saviour of the world. The Magi represent the Gentiles, all of us who are not Jews.

Ignoring the open minded message of the Prophets - mainly Isaiah, who had announced God's intention to offer his saving love to all nations, the people of Israel had become narrow minded and chauvinist, with an extreme nationalism that would lead them to doom.

In this Sunday liturgy, we will sing the refrain to the psalm 72: "All nations shall fall prostrate before you, O Lord.” Thos foreigners who came from afar worshiped Christ and offered him gifts, while his own people rejected him and looker for means to kill him.

The Magi looked tirelessly for the Messiah, and when they found him, "falling to their knees they did him homage. Then, opening their treasures, they offered him gifts of gold and frankincense and myrrh." (Mt 2:11).

The Spirit of God has been always present everywhere, silent but active, illumining people in their hearts and guiding them. In all cultures we can find precious intuitions about God's mystery and our relation with him, which come from the Holy Spirit. The Spirit of God always works from within so that one day people may be able to recognise and accept Christ, the true Saviour of the world.

The people of Israel were set apart for God to carry out his plan of salvation, but this salvation is open to all who are ready to accept it.

Paul wrote that this plan of God for the salvation of all was revealed and made clear in Jesus Christ.

"In former generations this mystery was not made known to humankind, as it has now been revealed to his holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit: that is, the Gentiles have become fellow heirs, members of the same body, and sharers in the promise in Christ Jesus through the gospel" (Ep 3:5-6)

Like the Magi, we must offer of what we have, and mainly we must offer our hearts, our minds and our lives as a gift of homage and thanksgiving to this child that was born for us.