Lay Homily: Jan 6th

Folks who know me have probably heard me gripe about the content of homilies.  Today I wanted to begin a series which I've been considering for a while.  What would I do if I was given the ambo for a day?  What that sound like?

(Total words:  599.  Total time: 3min 30sec)




Good morning, family in Christ.  There are a couple themes playing out simultaneously in our readings this week. 

The Old Testament is the story of how God chose a people, the Hebrews, to be His own – and to witness to Him to the world.  Israel was supposed to be a “light to the gentiles” – a beacon of God’s presence in the world.  In the first reading, Isaiah paints a vision of a renewed Jerusalem to the Jews who are in exile in Babylon.  He gives them a gleaming image of a nation which is the delight of the world, and is the embodiment of the wisdom of God.

The Church chooses this reading in conjunction with the visitation of the magi because it shows the fulfillment of this promise.  Whereas Luke’s Gospel emphasizes the humility of Christ, being laid in a manger and visited by shepherds – Matthew’s Gospel shows us a regal Christ visited by foreign dignitaries.  Israel was supposed to be the embodiment of God’s presence and wisdom.  But Jesus, who lives out the mission of Israel in his own person, is the true, literal embodiment of God’s presence and wisdom. He is the incarnation of God.

In opposition to Jesus is the folly and evil of King Herod.  Here is a man who was willing to slay his own children if it would only allow him to retain his office a bit longer.  Well, this was about 2020 years ago?  It’s fair to say he wasn’t able to retain his position.  He died like everyone else and faced his judgement before the God whom he tried to kill.
 
We can look in awe at Herod's insanity.  But do we do the same?  Do we, like Herod, live for the world as if we’re never going to have to face our judgement?   

The other theme is the ingrafting of the Gentiles – the non Jews – those outside the chosen people of God.  This is one of the biggest topics in the New Testament.  You see, after thousands of years being God’s unique possession, the sudden inclusion of the non-Jews into the New Covenant was… a change which took some getting used to.  Paul’s letter to the Ephesians is written to a Gentile audience, and it invites them to rejoice that God has revealed his master plan – present from the very beginning – to be in fellowship with all the peoples of the world.

To that end, Matthew begins his Gospel with the Magi – gentiles - coming to visit Jesus and do him homage.  He closes his Gospel with the commission to God to all the nations preaching the Gospel to all peoples.  Have you ever wondered which Messianic prophecies Jesus fulfilled?  The one whose fulfillment in Jesus is most readily apparent is that Jesus was the light to the Gentiles.  He was the means through which the knowledge of God spread out to the world. 

Jesus Christ is the fulfillment of all human hearts.  Do you believe that?  Do you believe that all people, in far-flung places of the world are meant to be joined with Him in the Catholic faith?  If the Gospel has gone out to the world, are you willing to share it with the people you meet in line at the grocery store?  Or in your office? Or your neighbors? 

It is a great treasure which we have in Jesus, and in His Church.  In this New Year, let us endeavor to tell people about what we have found in Bethlehem, to approach him with our gifts, and to partake of the many gifts He has given us.