The Epiphany

THE OCTAVE OF CHRISTMAS

Basilica of the Annunciation, Nazareth

On the Epiphany, Fr. T gave a wonderful sermon - the entire thing was wonderful - but one part stuck with me and I still found myself contemplating what he said in the days that followed.


Fr. T said that the Three Kings brought Jesus gifts....well, we all know that.


Then he likened those gifts to the gifts that God gives us.... Yes, we've probably heard that before too.


But then he said, not outer gifts like beauty or wealth or a good job, house, money, etc.


He said he meant the inner gifts, gifts from God that we can either choose to use or ignore.


Our personal talents. Our inner treasure.


Then he said that those gifts were like a stain glass window.






When light shines on a stain glass window from inside, it looks flat. One can't see the colors or even make out the picture sometimes.

The Wedding Church, Cana, Israel

But when a light is shone from inside, though our window, people see it! People see the picture, the meaning, the vitality, the beauty.

Church of All Nations, Jerusalem, Israel

The light from inside shows the vibrant colors, the patterns, the true picture. And in that illumination, we share the gift.

The gift of ourselves.

Basilica of the Annunciation                       The Wedding Church

       Nazareth, Israel                                     Cana, Israel

       

Church of St. John the Baptist                       Church of the Multiplication

       Ein Kerem, Israel                                     Tabgha, Galilee, Israel

We show, and we share, the inner treasure God has given us.

Chapel of the Flagellation - Jerusalem, Israel

God is calling us to shine our internal light, to illuminate our gifts so that others can benefit from the sharing of it.

We must use our blessings to bless others, to allow our light to shine from inside ourselves for people to see the gifts God has given us.

St. Joseph's Catholic Church - Lodi, NJ

Without the using of our gifts by illuminating and sharing them with others, we waste our treasure and are flat and colorless.

Church of St. Peter in Gallicantu - Jerusalem, Israel

Dear Lord, today I want to shine forth the gifts you've given me so that others may see and benefit from them.  Please let me always share the treasure you've given me with anyone I come in contact with to your glory.  Amen.

We must share our gifts so that others can acquire the light and shine themselves.

St. Joseph's Catholic Church - Lodi, NJ