A short story of “striking appearance”(mediation)
Today we are celebrating the Epiphany of the Lord. The word “epiphany” (ἐπιφάνεια), means “manifestation”, “striking appearance”.
Indeed, it is amazing to host the Divine Person who became one of us.
Indeed, it is amazing to witness the unveiled, however still in faith, reality of God who became visible and tangible.
Indeed it is striking when our eyes meet Baby Jesus’ eyes and allow the Divine Baby to penetrate our souls.
The gentle gaze of Baby Jesus manifests Heaven in its fullness.
The simplicity, gentleness and humility of the Divine Baby’s eyes are the gates through which God’s touch reaches our souls.
It is the only gaze in which we find rest and peace.
It is the gaze of God’s fatherhood.
We can bathe ourselves in the eyes of Jesus.
God is lovingly contemplating us – this is the Epiphany of the Lord.
In the gaze of Jesus we can grow.
Jesus’ gaze invites us to give Him our answer.
Strangely enough, He seems to be more fragile and smaller than we are.
When you and I look at Him, He never stops facing us.
If you say YES, He changes you and dwells in you even if you forget His presence.
Sometimes I ask Him, why He never stops putting me in question and obliging me;
why I am always restless without Him and why often with Him….
This is a very interesting sign of God and I living together.
Apparently He desires to become an ultimate source, in your and my soul, from which all meaning appears.
The Presence of Jesus Christ in the Bethlehem of the Altar stops me, opposes me; never gives up in struggling with me.
Here He is closer to me than He was to Moses at the Burning Bush (Exodus 3:1-22) and at Mount Sinai (Exodus 3:1-22).
Here He is closer to me than He was to Elijah when He was whispering (1 Kings 19:11-13).
Here He speaks to me even in silence and invites me to a relationship … slowly, however fully.
Fr Stan, Earley
Categories: Reflections