On this Feast of Epiphany we read from St. Matthew’s Gospel we hear how the Magi, ‘overjoyed at seeing the star” finally reached their true destination – the birthplace of the new-born king. Matthew goes on to proclaim:
and on entering the house they saw the child with Mary his mother. They prostrated themselves and did him homage. (Matthew 2: 10-11)
This ability to “see” is recognized over and over again throughout the Gospel infancy narratives.
Luke speaks of the shepherds after the good news of the birth of the new-born king is proclaimed to them by an angel:
When the angels went away from them to heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let us go, then, to Bethlehem to see this thing that has taken place, which the Lord has made known to us.” So they went in haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the infant lying in the manger. When they saw this, they made known the message that had been told them about this child. (Luke 2:15-17)
Yet again, Luke shares the prophetic response of Simeon, who was “righteous and devout” upon seeing and holding the child Jesus when Mary and Joseph bring him to the temple for dedication according to Mosaic Law:
Now, Master, you may let your servant go in peace, according to your word, for my eyes have seen your salvation, which you prepared in sight of all the peoples, a light for revelation to the Gentiles, and glory for your people Israel. (Luke 2:29-32)
Granted, the individuals of the birth and infancy of Jesus experienced extraordinary graces, such as Mary and Joseph, the shepherds and magi, Simeon and Anna. They were given the grace not only to see the child Jesus, but to believe or at least recognize in him something extraordinary is taking place in the universe! Never-the-less, their experience is instructive for us of the importance of seeing and believing in the person of Jesus.
During his ministry, Jesus would later instruct his disciples of the significance of their own experience:
Turning to the disciples in private he said, “Blessed are the eyes that see what you see. For I say to you, many prophets and kings desired to see what you see, but did not see it, and to hear what you hear, but did not hear it.” (Luke 10:23-24)
How many prior to Jesus’ birth had the deep desire to witness the realities and blessings of God’s kingdom that Jesus’ disciples experienced? But even those disciples were slow to understand the mystery unfolding before their eyes.
After Jesus appeared to those same disciples after his resurrection Thomas was absent and refused to believe their testimony of having seen the Risen Jesus. Once Jesus appeared to Thomas in another post-resurrection visit, the Lord tells him:
Then he [Jesus] said to Thomas: “Put your finger here and see my hands, and bring your hand and put it into my side, and do not be unbelieving, but believe.” Thomas answered and said to him, “My Lord and my God!” Jesus said to him, “Have you come to believe because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and have believed.” (John 20: 27-29)
My friends, ask for the grace to “See” Jesus in our own life experience. Ask for the grace to “Believe”. Once this truth is revealed to and in us, our life is changed. We fall in love with God, with Jesus, and that love directs everything else – everything!
This Christmas, may we ‘see’, may we ‘believe’, may we ‘love’ and be forever changed. This is to see as Simeon “the Salvation of the world and the Light to the nations”. This is the ‘seeing’ that leads us to give glory to God all the days of our life and for life everlasting.
Let us bless the Lord!
Merry Christmas!
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