Epiphany of the Lord
Mark Twain used to tell a joke that he put a dog and a cat
in a cage together as an experiment, to see if they could get along. They did.
So he put in a bird, pig and goat. They, too, got along fine after a few
adjustments. Then he put in a Baptist, a Presbyterian, and a Catholic, and hell
broke loose. Mark Twain did not even bother putting together a Christian, a
Muslim, and a Hindu. That was unthinkable in his days
In today’s world, we live in a global village. We humans are like animals who live in the same cage who profess different faiths and belong to different
races and nationalities. However, our interaction with each other is very
minimal. We are on a journey together as the prophet Isaiah speaks in the first
reading and interestingly our destination is the same.
Nevertheless, sometimes I think we are like passengers on a
plain. I have made long trips in my life. I was on a journey with a group of
people in Europe for two weeks. I remember none of them by name now. I don’t
remember who it was next to me when I made long trips to India. We ate together
and sat together for many hours, but didn't care for each other as to remember
who they were.
Isn't that what is happening in this world now? Do we get
along with each other? Do you remember a scene from Eugene Ionesco’s play, “The
Bald Soprano.”? Two people who do not know each other are sitting in a room.
Their conversation reveals a series of striking coincidences. Both were born in
Manchester. EACH has a two year daughter named Alice. They are now living in
London and are actually dwelling in the same street. They live in the same
apartment building and share the very same flat. It transpires that they are husband and wife
and they do not know each other.
We erect barriers among ourselves. We create our own idol
gods who limits God’s generosity among ourselves. We refuse to get in touch
with our own common humanity.
Epiphany brings those walls that we created among us down.
It tells us that God is accessible to everyone regardless of your background.
It declares the commonalty of the human race. After all, God created us in his
image. God dwells in us. As Paul says in
the second reading, we are co-heirs, members of the same body and co-partners
in the promise in Christ Jesus through the Gospel. Epiphany calls is to a new
vision of the world that sees beyond the walls and borders we have created and
to walk by the light which has dawned for all of humankind, a light by which we
are able to recognize all men and women as our brothers and sisters under the
loving providence of God, the Father of all.
In this world, in which there is a
lot of hatred and war, we can become like guiding stars to those who are
searching and looking for truth.
My 'epiphany' today was the reminder that the wise men were NOT Jewish. They were the gentiles that St Paul talks about in the second reading; gentiles like us. But, that's what makes their homage so much more amazing! I was also reminded of a children's story that fictionalized the story of the magi, their meeting with Herod, and of finding the baby king. It is called Three Wise Cats and is an excellent book for an adult to read aloud or for a middle schooler to read on his/her own.
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