“THE YOUNG CHILD WITH MARY”
Saint Matthew 2: 1-12
The Feast of The Epiphany of our Lord [transferred]: 5 January Anno Domini 2020
Father Jay Watson SSP
They were ushered into His physical presence and found Him with His Mother.
They were drawn. They did not choose. They came following an unusual light. They were given to encounter The LIGHT. They thought, rightfully so, that bringing gifts was appropriate when in the presence of “He that is born King of the Jews.” But their gold, frankincense, and myrrh, paled in The Presence of their Governor, Rule, and Prince, Who gave them in His Body the fullness of the Godhead: Father, Son + and Holy Ghost. Oh, they genuflected!
The Magi came from Persia, modern day Iran, an ancient civilization which had Christians, such as themselves, from the time of the Medes, under King Darius, to the thriving Christian community which still exists today. The Holy Ghost’s Work through Saints Daniel, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, had borne much fruit. Now the “fruit,” the branches, would be brought to The Vine, to The Tree of Life, reposing in the arms of His Mother.
There are truths you hear. Listen with your ears.
God was born in Bethlehem. Bethlehem means “house of bread.” Know what that means. God is your daily bread. Not metaphorical bread or imaginary “representative” and symbolic bread, but real food, real sustenance, and REAL Body and Blood. The Babe at Mary’s breasts is The God Who gives that Body and Blood. He gave it in 33 years of obedience to the Law—loving His Father perfectly and loving all his neighbors/enemies/Gentiles perfectly. He gave that Body and Blood on the cross to wash you clean from your filth. He comes to this parish, this day, to feed you the same Body and Blood. That was The Body and Blood which the Eastern sages “saw” when they “fell down, and worshipped Him.” You do the same!
They were ushered into His physical presence and found Him with His Mother!
The men from Persia were “wise men” only because they had been given faith to believe in This King and His star. Their knowledge of mathematics, science, and astronomy, notwithstanding, God’s Grace gave them wisdom: “the fear of The Lord is the beginning of wisdom (and knowledge)” [Ps.111.10] say both David and Solomon. That fear of God, that Word of Moses, both in command and release, comes only by The Word. The Chief Priests, and Scribes, and Herod, had that Word and missed its contents. The Magi had that same Word and were brought by that Word from the East that they might worship: “and thou Bethlehem, in the land of Juda, art not the least among the princes of Juda; for out of thee shall come a Governor, that shall rule My people Israel.” The Word of The Lord. Thanks be to God!
And, The Wisdom of God, both The Second Person, The Logos, and The Spirit, (for both bring the other) is found not in the deserts or oases of the far east, not even in the mere stones and brick of Herod’s edifice in the middle east, but only in the bright “oriens” the orient/east of where He is for you. HERE!
They were ushered into His physical presence and found Him with His Mother.
Fret not over astronomical phenomenon, angelic appearances, 1st century star-charts, and other interesting minutiae. Hear The Word. Read The Word. Taste and eat The Word.
How is this done? God does it, you don’t.
“…and, lo, the star…went before them, till it came and stood over where the young child was.”
This star is The Word, for you. This star was your Holy + Baptism, ever active, always hastening and constraining you to be: HERE! This star is The Holy Ghost accompanied by your own Guardian Angel to call and gather you to be: HERE! This star is every pastor and bishop who exhorts, pleads, and prays that you would be: HERE! “And they continued stedfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers” [Acts 2.42]. You don’t receive doctrine, and koinonia—The Blessed Sacrament, and corporate intercessory prayers for all people, unless you are: HERE!
“And…let us not [forsake] the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another; and so much the more” [Heb. 10.25].
The star is The Gospel read and preached. The star is The very Body and Blood of The “young child” grown, crucified dead, buried, resurrected, ascended, and reigning at The Father’s “right hand” with Saint Mary and all the host: HERE!
They were ushered into His physical presence and found Him with His Mother.
True Scriptural and confessional realities are both Catholic and Evangelical—in their true meanings and true fullness. No one comes to The Father but by The Son. No one comes to The Son but by His appointed “means of Grace;” His Word where He places it and wishes it to be delivered: HERE!
This most HOLY EPIPHANY—the visual and physical revelation of God Incarnate to the Gentiles continues now, under the star of the Crucifix; upon the star of the altar; and in the star of Chalice and Ciborium. HERE!
They were ushered into His physical presence and found Him with His Mother.
In the Name of the Father and + of the Son and of The Holy Ghost
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