Rise up in splendor, Jerusalem! Your light has come, the glory of the Lord shines upon you. See, darkness covers the earth, and thick clouds cover the peoples; but upon you the LORD shines, and over you appears his glory. Nations shall walk by your light, and kings by your shining radiance. Raise your eyes and look about; they all gather and come to you: your sons come from afar, and your daughters in the arms of their nurses.
Then you shall be radiant at what you see, your heart shall throb and overflow, for the riches of the sea shall be emptied out before you, the wealth of nations shall be brought to you. Caravans of camels shall fill you, dromedaries from Midian and Ephah; all from Sheba shall come bearing gold and frankincense, and proclaiming the praises of the LORD.
Second reading from the Letter of Saint Paul to the Ephesians Brothers EPH 3:2-3A, 5-6
Brothers and sisters: You have heard of the stewardship of God’s grace that was given to me for your benefit, namely, that the mystery was made known to me by revelation. It was not made known to people in other generations as it has now been revealed to his holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit: that the Gentiles are coheirs, members of the same body, and copartners in the promise in Christ Jesus through the gospel. Gospel of the day
From the Gospel according to Matthew MT 2:1-12
When Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea, in the days of King Herod, behold, magi from the east arrived in Jerusalem, saying, “Where is the newborn king of the Jews? We saw his star at its rising and have come to do him homage.” When King Herod heard this, he was greatly troubled, and all Jerusalem with him. Assembling all the chief priests and the scribes of the people, He inquired of them where the Christ was to be born. They said to him, “In Bethlehem of Judea, for thus it has been written through the prophet: And you, Bethlehem, land of Judah, are by no means least among the rulers of Judah; since from you shall come a ruler, who is to shepherd my people Israel.” Then Herod called the magi secretly and ascertained from them the time of the star’s appearance. He sent them to Bethlehem and said, “Go and search diligently for the child. When you have found him, bring me word, that I too may go and do him homage.” After their audience with the king they set out. And behold, the star that they had seen at its rising preceded them, until it came and stopped over the place where the child was. They were overjoyed at seeing the star, and on entering the house they saw the child with Mary his mother. They prostrated themselves and did him homage. Then they opened their treasures and offered him gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh. And having been warned in a dream not to return to Herod, they departed for their country by another way. Words of the Holy Father
The Gospel account of the Magi describes their journey from the East as a journey of the spirit, as a journey toward the encounter with Christ. They are attentive to signs that indicate his presence; they are tireless in facing the trials of the search; they are courageous in deducing the implications for life that derive from encounter with the Lord. This is life: Christian life is a journey, but being attentive, tireless and courageous. A Christian journeys like this. (Angelus 6 January 2015)
FAUSTI - In this story is presented the "Christmas of the soul" (M. Ecklart) : the birth of the believer in God and of God in the believer. It is a gradual generation, in five moments: the con-sidering (being with the stars) of the intelligence that opens to desire and to follow one's own star, the Scripture that reveals the One that we desire, the joy of the heart that shows where He is, the adoration and finally the gift of self to the One who has already given Himself. Even if we know the material place where He was born, it is not enough. We must make the itinerary of the Magi in the first person with a night journey full of fascination and fears, of desires and doubts, of hopes and uncertainties, under the guidance of a star that appears and disappears. Reason makes us look for the Saviour, revelation tells us where to find Him: the first says that He is there, the second Who He is, giving the first new criteria of evaluation, the same of God. Jesus is the King of the Jews, the Christ, Light of the nations, born for all in Bethlehem of Judea. The light of reason and revelation brings to Him humanity, which finds its life in Him. The Church is made up not only of Jews, but also of pagans who, like the Magi, make the journey of search until they find Him, kiss Him and open their treasure to Him. "They rejoiced greatly with great joy" God is Love , is Joy, His perfume, His sign of presence. It is communicated to those who love, to those who discover the treasure (13:44), to those who encounter the Living One (28:8). Here at last you "enter into the house", and you find the King. The child is to be seen. Where is the Child, if not in the heart of one who loves Him, listens to Him and rejoices in Him? The outer path stops; with worship begins the inner one. Three times it is said "to adore". You will find the Child if you enter the "house", and He is always with His Mother. You will find the Son in Israel, in Mary, in the Church, in your brothers and sisters, in yourself, if you love Him and listen to Him! The treasure in Matthew is the heart of man. Where your treasure is, there is your heart. The Magi open their hearts and offer what is in them. Gold, visible wealth, represents what one has; incense, invisible as God, represents what one desires; myrrh, ointment that heals wounds and preserves from corruption, represents what one is. Kingship, divinity, the creature's own mortality, all that man has, but above all what he desires and what he lacks, is his treasure. He opens to God his possessions, his desires and his penury. And God enters into His treasure. Here is "where" the Son is begotten from the Father. By giving what they are, the wise men receive Him who is, and they themselves become like Him. God is born in man, and man in God. Here the path is made. Also the Magi, like Joseph, receive the message of God in a dream. The dream of God influences history more than the power of every powerful person, and mocks him. They go back to where they started. But "by another way." No longer that of one who seeks one who does not know, but that of one who has found the One who seeks. In fact, they are no longer those of before, they have found "where" the king was born. The "where" of God is the heart of man, and the "where" of man is the heart of God. They withdrew as anchorites... says the Greek text, in their own land. They now have with them a new heaven and a new earth, seeds that they will carry wherever they go.
First reading from the Book of Isaiah
RispondiEliminaIS 60:1-6
Rise up in splendor, Jerusalem! Your light has come,
the glory of the Lord shines upon you.
See, darkness covers the earth,
and thick clouds cover the peoples;
but upon you the LORD shines,
and over you appears his glory.
Nations shall walk by your light,
and kings by your shining radiance.
Raise your eyes and look about;
they all gather and come to you:
your sons come from afar,
and your daughters in the arms of their nurses.
Then you shall be radiant at what you see,
your heart shall throb and overflow,
for the riches of the sea shall be emptied out before you,
the wealth of nations shall be brought to you.
Caravans of camels shall fill you,
dromedaries from Midian and Ephah;
all from Sheba shall come
bearing gold and frankincense,
and proclaiming the praises of the LORD.
Second reading from the Letter of Saint Paul to the Ephesians Brothers
EPH 3:2-3A, 5-6
Brothers and sisters:
You have heard of the stewardship of God’s grace
that was given to me for your benefit,
namely, that the mystery was made known to me by revelation.
It was not made known to people in other generations
as it has now been revealed
to his holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit:
that the Gentiles are coheirs, members of the same body,
and copartners in the promise in Christ Jesus through the gospel.
Gospel of the day
From the Gospel according to Matthew
MT 2:1-12
When Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea,
in the days of King Herod,
behold, magi from the east arrived in Jerusalem, saying,
“Where is the newborn king of the Jews?
We saw his star at its rising
and have come to do him homage.”
When King Herod heard this,
he was greatly troubled,
and all Jerusalem with him.
Assembling all the chief priests and the scribes of the people,
He inquired of them where the Christ was to be born.
They said to him, “In Bethlehem of Judea,
for thus it has been written through the prophet:
And you, Bethlehem, land of Judah,
are by no means least among the rulers of Judah;
since from you shall come a ruler,
who is to shepherd my people Israel.”
Then Herod called the magi secretly
and ascertained from them the time of the star’s appearance.
He sent them to Bethlehem and said,
“Go and search diligently for the child.
When you have found him, bring me word,
that I too may go and do him homage.”
After their audience with the king they set out.
And behold, the star that they had seen at its rising preceded them,
until it came and stopped over the place where the child was.
They were overjoyed at seeing the star,
and on entering the house
they saw the child with Mary his mother.
They prostrated themselves and did him homage.
Then they opened their treasures
and offered him gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh.
And having been warned in a dream not to return to Herod,
they departed for their country by another way.
Words of the Holy Father
The Gospel account of the Magi describes their journey from the East as a journey of the spirit, as a journey toward the encounter with Christ. They are attentive to signs that indicate his presence; they are tireless in facing the trials of the search; they are courageous in deducing the implications for life that derive from encounter with the Lord. This is life: Christian life is a journey, but being attentive, tireless and courageous. A Christian journeys like this. (Angelus 6 January 2015)
FAUSTI - In this story is presented the "Christmas of the soul" (M. Ecklart) : the birth of the believer in God and of God in the believer. It is a gradual generation, in five moments: the con-sidering (being with the stars) of the intelligence that opens to desire and to follow one's own star, the Scripture that reveals the One that we desire, the joy of the heart that shows where He is, the adoration and finally the gift of self to the One who has already given Himself.
RispondiEliminaEven if we know the material place where He was born, it is not enough. We must make the itinerary of the Magi in the first person with a night journey full of fascination and fears, of desires and doubts, of hopes and uncertainties, under the guidance of a star that appears and disappears.
Reason makes us look for the Saviour, revelation tells us where to find Him: the first says that He is there, the second Who He is, giving the first new criteria of evaluation, the same of God.
Jesus is the King of the Jews, the Christ, Light of the nations, born for all in Bethlehem of Judea. The light of reason and revelation brings to Him humanity, which finds its life in Him.
The Church is made up not only of Jews, but also of pagans who, like the Magi, make the journey of search until they find Him, kiss Him and open their treasure to Him.
"They rejoiced greatly with great joy" God is Love , is Joy, His perfume, His sign of presence.
It is communicated to those who love, to those who discover the treasure (13:44), to those who encounter the Living One (28:8). Here at last you "enter into the house", and you find the King.
The child is to be seen.
Where is the Child, if not in the heart of one who loves Him, listens to Him and rejoices in Him? The outer path stops; with worship begins the inner one. Three times it is said "to adore".
You will find the Child if you enter the "house", and He is always with His Mother.
You will find the Son in Israel, in Mary, in the Church, in your brothers and sisters, in yourself, if you love Him and listen to Him!
The treasure in Matthew is the heart of man. Where your treasure is, there is your heart.
The Magi open their hearts and offer what is in them.
Gold, visible wealth, represents what one has; incense, invisible as God, represents what one desires; myrrh, ointment that heals wounds and preserves from corruption, represents what one is.
Kingship, divinity, the creature's own mortality, all that man has, but above all what he desires and what he lacks, is his treasure. He opens to God his possessions, his desires and his penury. And God enters into His treasure.
Here is "where" the Son is begotten from the Father.
By giving what they are, the wise men receive Him who is, and they themselves become like Him.
God is born in man, and man in God. Here the path is made.
Also the Magi, like Joseph, receive the message of God in a dream. The dream of God influences history more than the power of every powerful person, and mocks him.
They go back to where they started. But "by another way."
No longer that of one who seeks one who does not know, but that of one who has found the One who seeks.
In fact, they are no longer those of before, they have found "where" the king was born.
The "where" of God is the heart of man, and the "where" of man is the heart of God.
They withdrew as anchorites... says the Greek text, in their own land.
They now have with them a new heaven and a new earth, seeds that they will carry wherever they go.