Pastor’s Letter: January 5, 2025

Pastor’s Letter: January 5, 2025

3 Jan 2025 | Posted by: chadmin

Dear St. Philomena Parish Family,

Blessed 2025 to you all! I pray that the Lord will bestow many blessings upon you in this year ahead. Thank you all for all your kind words and gifts for Christmas—I truly feel very blessed to be pastor here!

We celebrate this weekend the Solemnity of Epiphany.  “Epiphany” is a word that means “to make known” or “to make manifest.” We celebrate this weekend that Jesus is made known as Savior for all the world! This making Jesus known happens in a few ways—you may notice that the Gospels this time of year always focus on miracles (Jesus doing only things God can do, like turning water into wine at the wedding in Cana), unique appearances (like at the Baptism of Jesus when the Holy Spirit is seen descending upon Jesus and the voice of God the Father is heard), and in the journey and witness of those who are called to adore the newborn Christ (like the Magi, the wise men from the east, sometimes referred to historically as the three kings).

What is so important about the Magi? How does their journey help us today? Although their names are not known, medieval legend called them Gaspar (or Caspar), Melchior, and Balthasar. They are declared to come from “the East,” and their homeland was most likely the land beyond the Jordan River and east of the Dead Sea (in present day Saudi Arabia or Iraq). According to the Catholic Encyclopedia, “originally the Magi, ‘wise men,’ were a priestly tribe of soothsayers of Media who served under their Persian conquerors” (in present day Iran). The name “Magoi” was used by St. Matthew (2:1-12) to indicate “sages” who came to adore Christ. Since they were led by a star (Nm 24:17), they are often called astrologers, who were people that sought to gain knowledge by observing the stars. Also, these men are sometimes referred to as kings, because they brought kingly gifts (gold, frankincense and myrrh were most valued in that area of the world) and because they fulfilled well the prophecy of Isaiah 60:6 (bringing gold and frankincense on camels) and Psalm 72:11 (All kings shall pay him homage, all nations shall serve him).

The gifts the Magi brought to the newborn Christ were products of their native land, Arabian in character, and were such as would be presented to a king. Gold was (and still is) a most valuable gift. It is a most precious gift, fit for a king, and to give something so valuable as a gift is a great testament to how special the receiver of that gift really is. Frankincense is a fragrant gum-resin occurring in the form of large tears light yellowish-brown in color. This gum comes from Boswellia trees which are native to Southern Arabia.  Incense was burned to give honor to God and often accompanied holy sacrifices. Myrrh is a spice also produced from the gum resin of a large bush/small tree which grows in the Middle East. The aromatic gum appears when the thin bark is pierced, and it hardens and turns red when exposed to the air. Myrrh was often used as a burial spice or perfume. As St. Augustine said, these gifts were perfectly appropriate for Jesus: “Gold as paid to a mighty King; frankincense, as sacrifice to God; myrrh, as to one who is to die for the sins of all.”

The Magi are significant for many reasons. Of course, they offer great adoration to the newborn Christ and Messiah. For all of us, they are especially significant because they are believers in the Messiah who are outside the Jewish community. This was one of the first indications that the salvation being brought by the Messiah would be offered to people of all nations and backgrounds. Jesus didn’t just come for a few select people; he came for all people…of course including all of us. That might be the true gift of these three guys with camels—to help us know that Christ came for the whole world.

I invite you to take special joy this day in recalling Christ came for you! Know of my prayers and blessing this week.

In Christ,

Father Luke