Leaving home for an unfamiliar, magical journey
Jan. 7—The Epiphany of the Lord
Readings: Isaiah 60: 1-6; Psalm 72, R. Lord, every nation on earth will adore you; Ephesians 3:2-3a, 5-6; Gospel—Matthew 2:1-2The 1949 classic of Joseph Campbell, “The Hero with a Thousand Faces,” describes the heroic journey across world myths. It has become a very popular framework in corporate leadership programs and in many other formation programs across various groups or professions.
It combines literature, psychology, spirituality and many other disciplines, which accounts for its wide appeal and use across various groups.
Our Gospel for the Feast of the Epiphany gives us some of the elements of this heroic journey. These are our points for reflection.
First, there is the call, the inspiration to go on a journey, a quest that makes us leave “home,” the familiar or the comfort zone, to journey into an unfamiliar and even magical world.
Second, there is the journey itself, with all its challenges and trials.
Third, there is a point of transformation that will bestow the blessings on the pilgrim or the hero, which he/she in turn brings back home to share with others.
In our Gospel, the star that signaled the birth of the Messiah is the inspiration that invited the three Magi to leave home and journey in search of the child.
These are our dreams that inspire us in life. As one poster in our novitiate stated, “Dreams are like the stars. We may never reach them, but they are always there to guide us.”Dreams
These dreams are very much aligned with our desires and hopes. They define for us a better life, both in terms of material well-being and in the realm of purpose and meaning. These dreams we deem worthy of our taking the journey, going on a quest.
The three Magi show us this. In search of the longed-for Messiah, they journey from afar in search of the fulfillment of an age-old desire and hope. The star—their dream—became their companion and guide that would lead them to the fulfillment of their desires and hopes.
In their journey, we saw how they encountered the challenges and trials of the quest in the person of Herod and his cohorts.It is the challenge and trial of the evils of this world, the insidious plans of people who do not share the same desires and hopes, who seek the exact opposite of what we long for, what we hold dear and value.
In the journey of the Magi, they are given supernatural help in overcoming this challenge and trial, the evil of Herod. They are warned in a dream not to return to him and take another path in their return to their home.
Then there is the point of transformation.
“And behold, the star that they had seen at its rising preceded them, until it came and stopped over the place where the child was. They were overjoyed at seeing the star, and on entering the house, they saw the Child with Mary His mother. They prostrated themselves and did Him homage. Then they opened their treasures and offered Him gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh.” (cf. Matthew 2:1-12)They bow in adoration of the Messiah, the Child Jesus. They are transformed in this moment of adoration.
This, too, is our journey.
Courage to pursue dreams
This is why it is important that in our communities—our families, our churches, our organizations, our schools, our societies as a whole—there are opportunities to dream.
One of the greatest injustices of our time is when we rob people of the opportunity to dream, when in their being trapped in poverty and want, they can no longer be in touch with their deeper desires and hopes that give a more noble sense of meaning and purpose to their life. The desires and hopes that make up worthy and noble dreams.
Equally important is creating an environment that give people the courage to pursue their dreams, to take the risk, to try and to work hard in this pursuit.
This is the courage that gives them fortitude in the face of very real challenges and trials.
All this gave the three Magi the ability to navigate through the journey and come to that moment when the star, their dreams, finally brought them to the goal of their journey—the Child in the manger.
They saw and they adored, offering the Child the gifts and treasures they brought. This encounter with God which is the fulfillment of all their desires and hopes.
At this moment, the transformation is complete and total, and nothing else matters. —Contributed INQ
