The Epiphany Gospel: Matthew 2:1-12 The Magi from the East: A Prefiguration of Gentile Christians
When the Magi from the East came to Jerusalem to worship the newly-born Jewish king, Herod, the political Jewish king, reacted strongly. As soon as he heard the news, he was thrown into a panic (cf. Matthew 2:1-2). His panic did not stem from the newborn infant Jesus, but rather from the fear that this newborn child would pose a threat to his throne. After Herod was thrown into a panic, the residents living in the city of Jerusalem also became frightened because of his panic, for they were afraid that Herod would wreak havoc in the city to safeguard his royal power.
Sometimes, we can be like Herod. We often regard our worldly possessions and status as more important than our faith and may even abandon our faith for these perishable things. Our actions may cause those who know we are Christians to misunderstand what we believe in, leading them, along with us, to turn away from God and fall back into the slavery of the devil.
Today, the Magi from the East serve as a prefiguration of later non-Jewish Christians. Guided by the extraordinary star belonging to Christ, they learned that the Savior, Jesus Christ, had been born and was dwelling among us. They traveled a long distance to Jerusalem to seek Jesus. Enlightened by the Holy Spirit, they chose not to return to the world represented by Herod but instead entered the kingdom of God advocated by Jesus. As we have been called to be Christians, we should follow their example, make up our minds to follow Christ, leave the secular world behind, and enter the true realm of God.
Magi from the East, since God has invited you to seek His Messiah, please come and help us, so that we may follow in your footsteps and enter the true realm of God. Amen.
Christmas Weekday Saturday Gospel: John 1:29 – 34 The Testimony of John the Baptist
Today is the Weekday of the Christmas Weekday Saturday. The Gospel for the Mass is taken from the Holy Gospel according to Saint John, which tells of the testimony of John the Baptist concerning our Savior Jesus Christ.
When he saw Jesus approaching, John said: “Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world”(see John 1:29). At the same time, he directly pointed out the mission Jesus was to fulfil: “who takes away the sin of the world. “This means Jesus would act as the true Paschal Lamb, with the Cross as His altar. On this altar, He would offer Himself to the Father to atone for all the sins committed by humanity, reconciling the world with God. For all human beings living under the power of sin and death, their old self—marked by the death of sin—would be united with His human flesh-and-blood body and crucified with Him on the Cross. After He rises from the dead, we may begin a new life in Him.
Meanwhile, John the Baptist said: “I saw the Holy Spirit descending like a dove from heaven and remaining upon Him. I did not know Him, but the One who sent me to baptize with water told me: ‘He upon whom you see the Holy Spirit descend and remain is the one who will baptize with the Holy Spirit.’ Now I have seen and testified that He is the Son of God”(John 1:32-34). He clearly showed us that the Savior Jesus Christ, who was about to appear among humanity and begin His public life, is not only the Son of the Blessed Virgin Mary, not only the Son of David, not only the son of Joseph, but the Son of God. The work He was to accomplish was not done by Himself alone, but in cooperation with the Holy Spirit of God.
Our Heavenly Father calls us to be His children. We are called, like Saint John the Baptist, to discern our own vocation in life and to fulfil it under the guidance and leading of the Holy Spirit of God. Therefore, today, let us follow in the footsteps of Saint John the Baptist, be guided by the Holy Spirit, live up to God’s holy will, and faithfully carry out the mission entrusted to us by the Father.
Memorial of Saints Basil the Great and Gregory Nazianzen John 1:19-28 Imitating Saint John the Baptist, Courageously Bearing Witness to Christ
We often, just like John (cf. Jn 1:19-25), need to testify about what we have said or what we have seen. Sometimes, we also, like John, need to testify on behalf of others, to confirm that everything they have done is entirely true.
Why do we need to testify? Is it because everything we do is incomprehensible to others? Or will the world believe our testimony? If we harbour such doubts, we are like the timid person spoken of by the prophet Isaiah (cf. Is 35:4), because we dare not bear witness to Christ.
Today, the Church celebrates the memorial of two saints, St. Basil the Great and St. Gregory Nazianzen, who faithfully and without reservation spoke to the world all that they hear in the Church, and with their own actions bore witness to the Word of God they proclaimed. Similarly, we too must imitate their virtues, bearing witness to Christ throughout our lives, so that the world, by contemplating the work of redemption begun by God in us, may together with us receive the same baptism of Christ, be given the same Holy Spirit, share in the same cup of blessing, the same broken bread, and be united together in the Body and Blood of Christ, becoming one in Him.
St. Basil the Great and St. Gregory Nazianzen, pray for us to God. Amen.
全属于祢 
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