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January 02, 2011

SOLEMNITY OF THE LORD'S EPIPHANY

Is 60,1-6 . Eph 3,2-3a.5-6

Mt 2,1-12

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I remember that day last year when I lost my cellphone. When I slept the night before, it is still there in my bed. I know that it is secure there, since no stranger enters my room without my permission. In fact, its alarm have still rung by 5:00 am.

But everything turned the other way around. When I woke up by 8:30 am, the cellphone is not there anymore! I've searched for it everywhere in my room, even under my bed, but it is REALLY not there. Finally, I gave up, knowing that I could not find it anymore. Now, I'm suffering the consequences of a lost cellphone...

...good thing there is facebook! 

This is our reality, guys. Whenever we lost something, we search for it. We look for that one guy or girl who would "complete: us; others search-in just to find out if they are "called" to service of the Church.

This is our life. It is a continuous search for the ultimate goal. Day in and day out, we search for that goal in the things that we do, in the company of family, friends, and even in ourselves. Some succeed in their look-out, while others do not. We are all desperate to find that special something that would complete us. 

This is the quest of the Three Wise Men. Being sages of their own culture, they know that somebody greater than them is born. And with that, knowing that their calculations won't take them wrongly, they wandered along the vast desert to search for Him. 

They reached Jerusalem, but they did not find him there; instead, they were accepted with false entertainment from Herod, who at the time is king in Jerusalem. He was frightened that this child may overthrow him (The same reason why we celebrate the Feast of the Holy Innocents).

They proceeded towards Bethlehem, and with them is a guide, a star, which led them to the child. And upon seeing him, they gave him the renowned gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh.

We look deeply into this and see this reality: we are like the Wise Men! We search all our lives for what would make us happy and contented in life. Some look for it in riches, others in company of friends.Some in sexual pleasures, leaving few in desperation.

But guys! Here is happiness! It is in the infant born in Bethlehem! It is in the crucified in Golgotha! The Jews rejected him, but the gentiles accepted him with profound dignity. For all of us, Jesus appears today and everyday as guide, as rabbi. He is the key to eternal happiness. And those who find him will be sure to have found that ultimate happiness and contentment. Those who find him would offer not only gold, frankincense or myrrh, but most of all, they would offer the gift of their lives.

More than everything we've been searching for in this world of exile, Jesus completes us, our identity. This is because He is Emmanuel! God is with us! We could continue searching for something that can make us happy in this world, but remember this, WE CAN NEVER BE HAPPY WITHOUT CHRIST IN OUR LIVES.

Let's continue with our search. But I pray that at the end of this search, may we find the true treasure, the real contentment and happiness that we may experience. May we find Christ!