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Website for the Order of Deaconesses |
President's Page: The Manifestation of Christ to the Gentiles The coming of the Gentile wise men to find Jesus, whom they identified as "the King of the Jews," was a cosmic event that has rightfully earned a prominent place in the liturgical calendar. St. Paul, the premier Apostle to the Gentiles, understood the significance of God's gracious extension of the covenant to those of us who had once been afar off, and he gives thanks that his task is to share with the Gentiles "the unsearchable riches of Christ" (Eph 3:8). Through Him, we who would otherwise have remained lost in the darkness of our sin, forever outside the grace of God, have been sought out. For though it seemed as though the wise men did all the seeking and all the giving, it was actually God Himself who sought them out and bestowed the riches of grace upon them, for that had been His intention all along. His promise to Abraham made it clear that the blessings of the covenant were to extend to all nations. In fact, the Israelites had been placed in a strategic location in the world and had been given the mandate not only to obey God's Law but also to serve as a light to the nations. Their failure at both of these tasks did not thwart God's plan. Since they had not served Him where they were, He caused many of them to be exiled to ensure that the Gospel would be spread to all nations. It is most likely that the magi arrived in Jerusalem looking for the Promised King because they were inheritors of the witness of Daniel and the other faithful Israelites who had been taken to Babylon, which was later conquered by the Medes and Persians. They knew that the coming of the true King of the Jews was an event that would bless their nation as well. Epiphany is that season above all in which we remember that Jesus is the Light of the world. The wise men followed the star of Bethlehem, which had been created when all the other stars were made "for signs and seasons" (Gen 1:14). The star led to the Uncreated True Light, Jesus Christ. Simeon took one look at the Christ Child and proclaimed Him as the One whom God would send "to be a light to lighten the Gentiles and to be the glory of [His] people Israel" (Luke 2:42). John tells us that "in Him was life, and the life was the light of men" (John 1:4)
Let us rejoice in the Light, and praise His
name that all nations are included in His
promise.
In Christ,
Dss Teresa
Johnson
President, Women of the Church
dsstrj at
dmawomen.org |
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President's Page: Archives Spring 2010: Holy Week, Holy Life January 2010: The Eucharistic Life Christmas and the Art of Substitution |
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