January 03, 2010 Epiphany of the Lord Is. 60:1-6; Eph. 3:2-3, 5-6; Mt. 2:1-12 _________________________________________________________________________________________________________________   Readings:   http://www.usccb.org/nab/010310.shtml   ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________   The Magi enter the story seeking the real king, truth, meaning behind the star, and seeking to make sense of it all. The Magi’s story tells that God’s invitation was not just for the Jews, but for all people.   One of the main emphases centers on the search by the Magi. They were seeking. They were doing more than trying to solve an astrological problem or answer a question of science. They were sincerely seeking for the truth. They were genuinely seeking for the divine One who was born under such a special star. They were seeking for the intervention of a God as they understood Him in their world.   People today have a desire to find meaning in life. There is a God-given quest to seek for something of substance outside of ourselves. Christian sociologists and demographers consistently report people in our world are more spiritual but less Christian—they are seeking truth. People are hungry for meaning and they are on a desperate search.   However, a conflict which surfaces between this God-given desire to seek meaning and the self-centered human nature for control. This is illustrated in the Magi and Herod. People are confronted with a choice—seek meaning and purpose or appease the self. The need to move beyond ourselves, to seek meaning and purpose, and to bow in worship before the only One who can bring meaning to us is the choice of the Magi.   God calls us to do what the Magi did, and that is to seek Christ. Meaning is found in a pursuit of the Messiah. Purpose is discovered in the quest for the Son of God. Seeking the One who has come looking for us is the key to finding true meaning and purpose.   God has graciously made us response-able. We, by the grace of God, have been granted a choice. However, our choices have consequences and results. The Magi—the sincere seekers of truth, meaning, and substance in life—discovered exactly what they were looking for. As they laid their lives before the Christ child they were transformed. Life was given meaning that surpassed all this world had to offer.   <<   Previous: Holy Family  | Next: Baptism of the Lord >>   Go Back to SERMONS (Year C)