Feast of the Epiphany

My Dear Good People,

Today in the Catholic Church we celebrate the Feast of the Epiphany. As we read the story of the Magi who came from the East to worship the newborn king, we are reminded that it was the Bethlehem Star that guided them to Jesus. Epiphany means manifestation; God made the birth of His Son manifest by the Star. He revealed Himself to the world as a humble Child. The simplicity of His coming can keep us from recognizing the extraordinary miracles that happened at His birth, and we might lose sight of that Star.

How many times has God made Himself manifest in the everyday happenings of life? Do we always notice Him in all His comings? Don’t we sometimes miss Him completely? Most of us would have to admit that there are many times when we realize only too late, ‘Surely that was a God moment!’

Why does He let that happen? Wouldn’t you think that if He wanted us to be aware of His presence He would do something to make us sit up and notice right away? But often it’s in the ordinariness of His coming that the Graces are most profound. If we don’t see it as a moment of grace at the time, God doesn’t fault us for missing Him; He just keeps on trying to catch our attention. Eventually we gather all the clues and realize it’s been God all along who has been directing our life with a great and tender love.

Today is a good day to stop and think about the ways He speaks to us, shows us the way, reveals to us the truth about ourselves, turns our attention to Him. Let us be watchful for the Bethlehem Star that stops right over the door of our heart and shines in on us with the message, This is where I am to be found. Here, in real time, is where others can come to find Me, in the warmth of My love burning in you.

Have a blessed Day. Don’t let your light go out.

With loving prayers,

Mother Marie Julie

and the Sisters of Charity of Our Lady,

Mother of the Church