Epiphany Sunday
TWELFTH NIGHT
Wisdom, Chapter 5,
Verse 2
Seeing this, the
wicked shall be shaken with dreadful fear,
and be amazed at the unexpected salvation.
This verse is about the reaction of the wicked upon
discovering that Christ is real and that they have chosen poorly and now they
are to pay up for their crimes.
What Will Hell Be
Like?
THOUGH many
of the pagans were true atheists, considering Hell a fable invented to frighten
the wicked, the more renowned of the ancient philosophers such as Socrates,
Xenophon, Aristotle, Plato and others had no difficulty in admitting the
existence of a future life— a Heaven where the good would be rewarded, and a
Hell where the evil are to be punished. Only the most perverted of men will
deny that there is a God, the Creator and Governor of all things. Such men
would prefer to deny the existence of God than to face the just chastisement of
their own misdeeds.[1]
Why doesn’t God stop human beings from committing
wicked deeds?
Evil’s continuing presence among us is a mystery we can’t fully figure out in this
life. Nevertheless, we can say this much: God allows evil because He’s powerful
enough to bring out of even the greatest evil a much greater good. The
crucifixion of Jesus Christ provides a vivid illustration of this reality.
According to the Gospel, when “Satan entered into Judas,” one of the twelve
Apostles, he went out to betray Jesus (see Lk 22: 3– 4). So, the worst evil we
can imagine— the torture and murder of God’s innocent Son— occurred through the
Devil’s influence. Yet the triumph of the empty tomb transformed the horror of
the Cross. Satan was thwarted. When Jesus rose from the dead, He displayed
God’s power to bring out of the greatest of evils an even greater good: the
world’s redemption. Meanwhile, our days in this life provide a season for God
to test, purify, strengthen, and perfect us, making us fit to live with Him
forever in heaven. To that end, the demons serve as useful tools for Him as
they constantly test us by tempting us, so that we become purer and stronger
and closer to perfection every time we resist the temptation. In this sense, we
might say, quoting St. Augustine: “As an artist, God makes use even of the
Devil.”
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There is no offense, however serious, that the Church cannot forgive.
"There is no one, however wicked and guilty, who may not confidently hope
for forgiveness, provided his repentance is honest. Christ who died for all men
desires that in his Church the gates of forgiveness should always be open to
anyone who turns away from sin.
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In the presence of Christ, who is Truth itself, the truth of each man's
relationship with God will be laid bare. The Last Judgment will reveal even to
its furthest consequences the good each person has done or failed to do during
his earthly life:
All that the
wicked do is recorded, and they do not know. When "our God comes, he does
not keep silence.". . . he will turn towards those at his left
hand: . . . "I placed my poor little ones on earth for you. I as
their head was seated in heaven at the right hand of my Father - but on earth
my members were suffering, my members on earth were in need. If you gave
anything to my members, what you gave would reach their Head. Would that you
had known that my little ones were in need when I placed them on earth for you
and appointed them your stewards to bring your good works into my treasury. But
you have placed nothing in their hands; therefore, you have found nothing in my
presence."
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Thus the Lord's Prayer reveals us to ourselves at the same time that
it reveals the Father to us.
O man, you did not
dare to raise your face to heaven, you lowered your eyes to the earth, and
suddenly you have received the grace of Christ all your sins have been
forgiven. From being a wicked servant you have become a good son.
. . . Then raise your eyes to the Father who has begotten you through
Baptism, to the Father who has redeemed you through his Son, and say: "Our
Father. . . . " But do not claim any privilege. He is the Father
in a special way only of Christ, but he is the common Father of us all, because
while he has begotten only Christ, he has created us. Then also say by his
grace, "Our Father," so that you may merit being his son.
Epiphany Sunday
WHAT mystery does the Church celebrate to-day?
She celebrates to-day a threefold mystery:
1. The arrival in Bethlehem
of the Wise Men from the East to adore the new-born Savior;
2. The baptism of Jesus in
the Jordan;
3. The first miracle of
Jesus at the wedding in Cana.
Why is this festival called Epiphany, or the
manifestation?
Because in the three events just mentioned Jesus manifested Himself not
only to the Jews, but also to the gentiles, as the expected Messiah, the Redeemer
of the world, and the beloved of His heavenly Father. The Church sings to-day
with joy at the Introit, “Behold the Lord, the Ruler, is come, and a kingdom in
his hand, and power and dominion” (Mai. iii. 1). “Give to the king Thy
judgment, O God, and to the king’s son Thy justice” (Ps. Ixxi. 2).
Prayer.
O God,
Who didst on this day reveal Thy only-begotten Son to the gentiles by the
guidance of a star, grant in Thy mercy that we, who know Thee now by faith, may
be brought to be hold the beauty of Thy majesty.
EPISTLE.
Is. Ix. 1-6.
Arise, be enlightened, O Jerusalem: for thy light
is come, and the glory of the Lord is risen upon thee. For behold darkness
shall cover the earth, and a mist the people: but the Lord shall arise upon thee:
and His glory shall be seen upon thee. And the gentiles shall walk in thy
light, and kings in the brightness of thy rising. Lift up thy eyes round about
and see: all these- are gathered together, they are come to thee: thy sons
shall come from afar and thy daughters shall rise up at thy side. Then shalt
thou see and abound, and thy heart shall wonder and be enlarged, when the
multitude of the sea shall be converted to thee, the strength of the gentiles
shall come to thee. The multitude of camels shall cover thee, the dromedaries
of Madian and Epha: all they from Saba shall come, bringing gold and
frankincense, and showing forth praise to the Lord.
Of what does the prophet here speak?
He foretells the future manifestation of the light of the Lord Jesus to
Jerusalem, which was a type of the Church, and that by that light the gentiles
should enter into the one Church of Christ.
Prayer.
Give praise, O ye heavens, and rejoice, O earth; ye mountains, give
praise with jubilation, because the Lord hath comforted His people, and will
have mercy upon His poor ones (Is. xlix. 13).
GOSPEL. Matt. ii. 1-12.
Why did the Wise Men come from afar to seek the Savior in Jerusalem?
They lived in Arabia, and had acquired some information of the prophecies of Israel, particularly of the noted prophecy of Balaam, “A star shall rise out of Jacob, and a scepter shall spring up from Israel” (Num. xxiv. IT), which was the more significant to them because they were, as their name denotes, skilled in astronomy. But to these human considerations must be added the light of divine inspiration, as St. Leo says, “The star shone also in their hearts a beautiful example for us to follow, without delay, the inspirations of divine grace, and to do the will of God without fear of men”.
What was the significance of the presents which the Wise Men offered to the Savior?
In offering gold, the Wise Men honored the infant Jesus as King; in frankincense, as God; in myrrh, as suffering Man.
How can we offer to Jesus similar gifts?
We can present Him with gold by giving up to Him what we value most, our will; also, by giving alms in His name to the poor. We can present Him incense in fervent and devout prayers ascending to heaven; and myrrh, by preserving purity of body and soul.
Prayer.
The Twelfth Night[3]
But what exactly are the Twelve Days of Christmas? They are the days between Christmas and the Feast of the Epiphany that constitute an unbroken period of joy and celebration. Epiphany is considered the twelfth day of Christmas (in fact it is sometimes called "Twelfth Day") while the Eve of Epiphany is called "Twelfth Night." Shakespeare's play, "Twelfth Night," takes its name from the Vigil because during this period festivals (such as the Feast of Fools or the Feast of the Ass) used to be held in which everything was turned upside-down -- a little like the reversed identities of the characters in the play. These "preposterous" observances, incidentally, were a joyful mimicry of the inversion of almighty God becoming a lowly man, of the King appearing as a humble infant.
The twelve nights of Christmas were primarily a time of rest from unnecessary labor and joyful prayer. On each of these nights the Christmas tree lights and the Christmas candle would be lit, while the family would gather around the manger to recite prayers and sing carols and hymns. Similar services are held in some churches during these nights as well.
Twelfth day of Christmas is represented by the
Twelve Drummers drumming in the song which of course represents the twelve
points of the Apostles Creed. It is interesting to note that these 12
points are indeed pointing to the abode of God and that our Lord is the gate of
heaven.
1.
I
believe in God, the Father almighty, creator of heaven and earth.
2.
I
believe in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord.
3.
He
was conceived by the power of the Holy Spirit and born of the Virgin Mary.
4.
He
suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died, and was buried.
5.
He
descended into hell. On the third day he rose again.
6.
He
ascended into heaven and is seated at the right hand of God the Father
Almighty.
7.
He
will come again to judge the living and the dead.
8.
I
believe in the Holy Spirit,
9.
the
holy catholic Church, the communion of saints,
10. the forgiveness of sins,
11. the resurrection of the body,
12. and the life everlasting.
Additionally,
the 12th Station of the Cross Jesus dies. Today would be a good day
to do the Eucharistic Stations of the Cross.
Activities for the Twelfth Day of
Christmas[4]
One night, he was
working very late at his desk and fell asleep in his chair. The candle on the
desk burnt down and charred some of the papers, but they were still readable.
He awoke, surprised and thankful that a fire had not ignited. He fell on his
knees to give thanks to God for protection, and heard His voice saying,
"As the flames are burning here without consuming or injuring the writing,
so shall I pour out my grace in the Blessed Sacrament without prejudice to My
honor. Fear no profanation, therefore; hesitate no longer to carry out your
design for my glory." He introduced the practice of 40 Hours Devotion at
the first diocesan synod in April 1853, and the first devotions began at St.
Philip Neri Parish, an appropriate place since that St. Philip had begun that
very devotion in the city of Rome. The holy Bishop then introduced the program
for the whole diocese, so that each parish would have Forty Hours Devotion
during the course of the year. He wrote a booklet for the devotions and
obtained special indulgences for the faithful attending them. The Forty Hours
Devotion was so successful it spread to other dioceses. At the Plenary Council
of Baltimore in 1866, the Forty Hours Devotion was approved for all Dioceses of
the United States. Excerpted from St. John Neumann and the 40 Hours Devotion
by JosephMary
We suggest that today would
be an excellent time to make a family holy hour (or holy half hour) at an
adoration chapel or in your parish church. If you can't make a visit to the
Blessed Sacrament your family can pray this litany at home. The activity can by
brought to conclusion by singing Christmas carols and enjoying Christmas
cookies and the Christmas bread, Vanocka.
John
Neumann was born in Bohemia on March 20, 1811. Since he had a great desire to
dedicate himself to the American missions, he came to the United States as a
cleric and was ordained in New York in 1836 by Bishop Dubois. In 1840, John
Neumann entered the Congregation of the Most Holy Redeemer (Redemptorists). He
labored in Ohio, Pennsylvania and Maryland. In 1852, he was consecrated bishop
of Philadelphia. There he worked hard for the establishment of parish schools
and for the erection of many parishes for the numerous immigrants. Bishop
Neumann died on January 5, 1860; he was beatified in 1963.
Go
to a Three Kings Parade[6]
January 5 or 6
Many
cities around the world celebrate the Feast of the Epiphany or Three Kings’ Day
on the 12th day of Christmas. The celebration marks the day on the Christian
calendar when the Magi brought gifts to the baby Jesus. Parade, performances and
feasts are all part of the tradition. New York and Miami hold big parades as
well as many cities in Mexico, Spain and other parts of Latin American and
Europe. No matter which celebration you go to, be sure to get some rosca de
reyes; it’s a sweet bread baked in a ring shape to represent a crown and
decorated with candied fruit to represent the jewels.
Daily
Devotions
·
Today in honor of the Holy Trinity do the Divine Office giving
your day to God. To honor God REST: no shopping after SUNSET ON SATURDAY till
Monday. Don’t forget the internet.
[1]Schouppe
S.J., Rev. Fr. F. X.. Purgatory Explained
[5]https://www.catholicculture.org/culture/liturgicalyear/calendar/day.cfm?date=2019-01-05
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