A theme of Christmas, found in our recent Christmas Mass readings, is that of the light shining in the darkness; or we might say that the light overcomes the darkness. Today, as we celebrate the feast of the Epiphany (meaning “manifestation” or “revelation”), that theme continues with the story of the star shining in the sky, which leads the wise men from the East to the baby Jesus.
Similar to light overcoming darkness is the theme of good overcoming evil. We can see the whole Jesus story, not only his birth story, as one of the triumph of good over evil. In the story of Herod and the wise men and the baby Jesus with Mary and Joseph, King Herod represents evil as he tells a lie to the wise men and is plotting to kill the child. Yet, despite Herod’s best efforts, the child is born and is kept alive and safe.
Not only is the child alive and safe, but there is time for celebration! There is time for prayer and reverence as the wise men “pay him homage”. There is time for gift giving. There is time for the wise men to be “overwhelmed with joy”.
Despite the evil forces which still exist today, let us pray that good things continue to happen, in us and through us and around us, through the grace of that same God who became one of us in the child Jesus. May good things not only happen and survive, but thrive and bring joy and be celebrated and cherished.
– Fr. Paul Robson SJ