Homily: Epiphany YR C
Do You Let your Light Shine?
by Fr. William Holtzinger
1-4-04

Today we hear celebrate Epiphany. Does anyone know what the word Epiphany means? It means “to reveal” or “to show”. Someone might call it an “ah hah moment.” It is a time when one has come to a new understanding that they didn’t have previously. It’s akin to when you’ve won a prize. The Magi went to see the child Jesus and were given an insight into the new King of the Jews. For a moment, the outside world was curious and looked in. Imagine the feelings of those who had the insight of Jesus’ identity and knowing him as a baby. The Magi left their homes, their places of comfort and the light of the world was revealed to their eyes. In return they gave homage and gave Jesus precious gifts.

In order for us to connect with Epiphany, I would like to offer an illustration. (have all the lights go off and then hold up a mini magi light with the lens off). The world is a dark and dangerous place. It has been darkened by sins of the world. Yet, God has sent us a light. This mini magi light is like Jesus who enlightens all who desire him. The church is like the lens cap and directs our light on things that we should focus upon. Without the lens cap we know that the light exists but is almost too much to look at or comprehend. The Church has been given the stewardship, the care taking of the gift of faith. She gives us direction and points our faith like this lens allows the light to point to the star in our sanctuary. Notice that the Church also focuses our attention on the One... Jesus on the cross (point the flashlight on the crucifix).

St. Paul tells us in Ephesians that he also has been given a stewardship. He has been given a singular epiphany by God that Christ has come to offer salvation to the Gentiles too. This is certainly new. It was not well accepted even amongst the newest believers. God’s mercy is far greater than we would suppose or desire. Given our gifts, we might want to focus our attention to those things or persons that we like the most. Yet, Jesus confronts this idea and broadens the whole thing.

This light of faith that we have been given is intended to be kept burning brightly. We are being given a stewardship of this gift and are supposed to share it. And if we do, the light will grow as candles are often passed to enlighten a room. Yet we do so many things that darken this light.

You see God gives us the light and some of us darken it by excluding those we don’t like. We say we welcome all people, but turn around and darken our invitation by make racist comments about those who speak another language, say Spanish. We say that with this light we are open to others, yet darken it by saying that we don’t like Democrats or Republicans because we are Independents. With this light we say we want to protect the poor and yet some darken the light by their approval of doctor assisted suicide or abortion. We are given the gift and too often squander it and darken our souls. Yesterday 148 people died in a plane accident in Egypt. We might be given over to despair and darkness by the news of the world. Yet, the light of Christ has and will continue to conquer it all. This is the Good News. No matter what our attitude, no matter how many things go wrong, God’s light, his Son has already won the war. His light has overcome the darkness of the world.

But, do we live in this light? Do we encourage and spread the light? Or do we keep it to ourselves? We have a choice. We are being called to be good stewards of this gift. But do we hoard it? We have so many ways to experience this light. We have the Eucharist, Jesus himself. We have the sacraments of baptism and reconciliation. We have anointing of the sick. In these Sacraments, we encounter this light and are transformed by it. Jesus is our light and wants to be part of our lives. Do we want to be part of his? And if we do, have we ever made a concrete commitment to do so? I invite you in these next moments of silence to speak to Christ and renew your commitment to let the light of Christ burn even more brightly. Maybe this is the first time. Maybe this is the hundredth time. What ever it is, I invite you to commit your life and ask Jesus to fill your faith with a new zeal and hope for the world.