Greetings beloved,
January 6 is a day that the Church has chosen to celebrate the coming of the Wise Men, and they called it Epiphany, a Greek word that means appearance. There is another Greek word that has long been associated with that one, and it is Theophany, which means an appearance of God. In choosing to take on human form and be born of a woman for us, God’s great love is shown by His desire to be known by us, and to save us.
The “Magi” (Wise Men), arrived in Jerusalem from the East after following the Star of Bethlehem for many, many miles, which they believed was leading them to the birthplace of a new king. These religious scholars had no doubt been reminded by such scriptures as Genesis 49:10 and Micah 5:2 which tells where the Messiah would be born. After a brief encounter with Herod, they continued on and did indeed find Jesus Mary and Joseph living in a house in Bethlehem. They worshipped Jesus as King of kings and presented their gifts, and then were warned by God in a dream not to go back through Jerusalem or to report to Herod what they had found.
Just as the Magi worshipped Jesus with their best gifts, so too, when we approach Jesus in our daily relationship, we should worship Him with our best gift, ourselves. Romans 12:1 says, “I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service.” Under the Old Testament some of the Jews did not offer their best and were condemned for it. In Malachi 1:8 we read, "And when you offer the blind as a sacrifice, Is it not evil? And when you offer the lame and sick, Is it not evil?" Is it not just as evil today when we do not give God our best?
Under the New Testament we no longer offer animal sacrifices as the Jews did under the Old Testament; but we are to give our lives in service to Him as a living sacrifice. In doing this we must give Him our all. Anything we do for God must be our very best. Jesus tells us in Matthew 22:37, “You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.” All our heart, soul, and mind, or in other words, our total being must be offered in our worship. Are you giving Jesus your best today?
Pray with me… Father God, as we worship you, help us to put aside all of our wants and wishes, and seek You first, Your kingdom and Your righteousness, with all that we are, heart, soul and mind. Help us Lord to be living sacrifices to You. In Jesus holy name we pray. AMEN!
God’s blessings to you all,
Fr. Ernest+
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