Dear Parishioners and Friends of St. Mary’s of the Lake:

 
This Sunday we celebrate the Solemnity of the Epiphany of the Lord. ‘Epiphany’ is the word from a Greek root that means ‘showing forth’  or  ‘manifestation.’ God has manifested Himself and His great Love for us, in the highest point, through His Beloved Son Jesus, who came to us as the Emmanuel –‘God-With-Us!’  During Christmas Season we celebrate this great mystery of the Incarnation –Jesus Christ, the Son of God and the Second Person of the Holy Trinity, assumed our human nature --becoming like us in all things but sins…There are 3 distinct but connected phases of the Christmas Cycle: Advent, Christmas and Epiphany! These 3 phases hang on to each other and celebrate the one focal point: God becomes one of us in Jesus:  Advent focuses on waiting, preparation and being alert! Christmas focuses on joy, celebration and wonder, Epiphany (along with the Baptism of the Lord) celebrates Christ becoming manifest to all people. 

The Epiphany brings to our minds the picture of the three magi (or kings or astrologers). They came from afar to worship Jesus and to bring Him Gifts. While we may be tempted to focus on the magi’s gifts as well as the gifts we gave or received on Christmas, we should never be sidetracked and forget the Greatest Gift to us from our Loving Father  i.e. Jesus Christ, who was born in Bethlehem and was laid in a Manger. These two words carry rich meanings: In Hebrew, Beth-lehem is made up of two words Beth= house and lehem= bread. In other words, Bethlehem means ‘House of Bread’. Also: Manger means an open box from which horses, cows, and other animals feed. We can reflect on these two words in connection with the Holy Eucharist: In John 6:35 Jesus proclaimed: ‘I am the Bread of Life’. When He came to us in flesh, he was born in Bethlehem –i.e. He was born into the ‘House of Bread’ or into the City which had the honor to hold ‘The Bread of Life’ to the world.  Also: When he was born he was laid in a manger  or an open box where animals can come and be fed.  Jesus said to us: ‘Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life.’ (Jn 6:54). Jesus is the greatest Gift the Father gives to us. In the Holy Eucharist Jesus gives Himself to us to nourish our spiritual life!

THANK YOU: Please accept my heartfelt Thanks for all your prayers & good wishes, cards, emails & texts... and gracious gifts to me during the Christmas Season & New Year. God Bless!

Fr. Philip