Epiphany - January 6

Feast of the Epiphany not only reminds us of the historical event described in today's Gospel according to St. Matthew. This ceremony draws our attention to the fact much more significant and unusual, namely the fact that God wants to reveal himself to his people. This revelation of God repeatedly described in the Old Testament is final and ultimate in the Incarnate Word of God, Jesus Christ. The author of the Letter to the Hebrews puts it very clearly when he writes: "In many and various ways God spoke of old to our fathers by the prophets, but in these last days He has  spoken unto us by his Son" (Hebrews 1:1-2). It is a matter of cardinal importance the recognition of the importance of the fact of God's revelation in the Son. God Himself decided that the best and most appropriate way of self-revelation to man is a revelation in Jesus Christ, the incarnate Son of God.

This self-revelation of God is very often presented in Scripture as the Enlightenment, the coming of light "for enlightenment." Simeon says in the temple at the time of sacrifice: "Now, Master, you may let your servant depart in peace, according to your word. 'because my eyes have seen your salvation which you have prepared before the face of all peoples, a light for revelation to the Gentiles and for glory to your people Israel." (Luke 2:29-32). And St. John writes in the prologue to his Gospel: "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All were made through Him, and without Him nothing was made that was made. In Him was life, and the life was the light of men, and the light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it." (John 1:1-5). Also, Christ himself says of himself: "I came into the world as light, so that everyone who believes in me may not remain in darkness." (John 12:46)

You could even say that this is the most important element of faith. God decided to "enlighten" his people, "enlighten" a man living in the darkness of sin and therefore revealed himself as Jesus Christ - God incarnate. If you negate the fact of the incarnation, if you negate the truth that Jesus Christ is the Incarnate Son of God, the self-revelation of God, then all our faith is shattered, because we then deny also that He is the Messiah, the Savior, Redeemer, Liberator. And then there is no salvation, no eternal life, there is no Divine Mercy, and everything is an illusion and misunderstanding.

That is why Christians from the beginning so much defended the truth of the self-revelation of God through the Incarnation. And this is why today this truth is most strongly eradicated by unbelievers and atheists. Satan is constantly trying to convince us that Jesus is NOT the incarnate Son of God and He is only unusual (but only) man, a wise guru, a teacher, an itinerant preacher. If Jesus is not the final word of God spoken to man, if He is not the Light of the World, then we still live in the darkness, and the darkness engulfed us, we still live in the darkness of sin, because there is no Redeemer, no one who by "enlightenment" moves us out of darkness.

But there is one more important element of this divine pedagogy of enlightenment. Namely, that  actually to be enlightened one must recognize and accept the One by Whom the enlightenment  is performed. Magi from the East in today's Gospel are looking for light, looking for the newly-born Son of God, they recognize and welcome Him, offering Him homage. But not all follow the wise example. As in the second part of the prologue St. Jan writes: "The true light that enlightens every man was coming into the world. He was in the world, and the world was made through Him, yet the world knew him not. (LIGHT) came to his own, but his own did not receive Him." (John 1:9-11) And that's why so many people continue to live in darkness and hopelessness.

In an interview with Nicodemus, Jesus also says sadly, "... the light has come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil" (John 3:19). It is unfortunately still true for many of those who have rejected and continue to reject the light, even in our times. This is true of those who loved darkness because their deeds are evil. And because they are afraid of light, afraid of the Incarnate Son of God and the truth that they do not want to accept. So on today's Solemnity of the Epiphany ask yourself this very important question: Can I say that according to the expression of St.. Paul "We are all sons of light and sons of the day", are not rather that we are the sons "of the night and darkness?" (1 Thessalonians 5:5). Is the light of Jesus Christ illuminating the darkness of my life? Is it transforming and illuminating? For as long as I live in sin, I reject the truth of the Incarnation of the Son of God, until I  give up myself to the sanctifying and purifying action of light, I do not live in light and darkness still envelops me.

Pope Benedict XVI criticized the "cool academic approach" of the Scripture, which leads to the "vivisection secrecy" with "ignoring the dimension of the supernatural". "These were taught, off those whom found the Magi coming from the East to Bethlehem, the Pharisees. They knew where the child was born, but the message has not touched their lives. They could provide information, but it has not contributed to the formation of their own lives, "

January 6 (or second Sunday after Christmas) - Epiphany of the Lord

Glorify the Lord, all the nations of the earth

It seems that they are right, those who speak of imperialism if the Church or Christian imperialism. Church proclaiming Christ to all continents for centuries is certainly causing some mixed and confusing reactions. Some people have also similar feelings after the publication of dogmatic document "Dominus Jesus", which generated so much discussion among theologians and the peoples of Asia as well as among the liberals and dissidents. But is it true that the Church is imperialistic; or rather it is only some kind of "allergy" or aversion of God?

Leaving aside these kind of academic and theological disputes maybe it will be better to look at today's Gospel scene. We see the pagan nations, in the persons of the three wise men (the Magi) coming to not at all an imperialist Christ, to a Child and recognizing in Him the King, Whom they want to worship. Today's Solemnity of the Epiphany shows us the immense truth that man (on each latitude and in every culture) is waiting for the manifestation of God, the Creator. It shows that humanity yearns for Him, and is looking for Him eagerly. It is not the Church or Christianity that is imperialistic; God wants that all nations on the earth may know the truth of His saving Love for man, the truth of His saving Passion, Death and Resurrection.

It is undoubtedly true that often in the history of the Church some institutions have committed an error of imperialism. It is true that some people of the institutional church have had an imperialistic attitude. But this kind of generalized accusation is a misunderstanding if you look at the whole history of salvation and its effects. Church since apostolic times was always aware that it is "The love of Christ impels us". And this awareness, this imperative of God's Love nobody who knows Jesus could resist. Let's not get mad when others accuse us that we are imperialist, because we "impose our way of life", because we command or are forcing to live according to our own, Christian norms and rules. Working in the missions for more than fifteen years I didn't notice anything like that. I also try not to impose anything and do not violate anyone's beliefs. Church rather proposes: "If you want to be saved, if you want your life took on a different and deeper meaning and dimensions of eternity, believe in Christ. Ultimately, however, the choice is absolutely yours. "Thousands of martyrs in Africa, South America and Asia, teen of thousands of missionaries who gave their lives in proclaiming the truth to save the man from his misery are the best proof of this. And those who secretly sell weapons to the Third World countries, those who exploit them economically, who steal natural resources, they can scream and shout loud -for sure- about the imperialism of the Church to cover their own evil and dark machinations. And the Church cannot cease to preach Christ, Jesus Christ crucified. He came as a child, helpless and without power, so to release the man from the powers of evil. And so, evil will always be the loudest in protesting against the revelation of the goodness. And that evil still screams accusing of imperialism the Church of Christ and distorting the truth, just by dressing up itself in the garments of truth and freedom.

Christians - do not be ashamed to be the followers of Christ and showing others the One Who for the salvation of humanity became Man. Even if we are accused of all sorts of imperialism, let us not be ashamed to be the disciples of Christ. Let's not get crazy, discouraged and intimidated. Let's not use force in converting, but let us not be weak and submissive conformists, let us not compromise the Gospel for the sake of political correctness or luxury. Let us live as followers of Christ and in our life let us proclaim the fact that He is the only Savior of man. May His Name – the most Holy name of Jesus- will be known and praised by all who believe in Him, and for those who reject Him, let it be the Name full power and causing fear in their hearts.

Only wicked people may accuse Christ of imperialism. Wise and honorable people -as Patrons' Saints of today- always recognize in Him, in Jesus Christ the Savior and the true King, Who conquers the world and the human heart, but not with weapons and power, but Love which He is revealing to humanity. Only the foolish and perverse political systems are afraid to open the doors for Christ. Only the little people, persevering in their selfishness do not want open the doors of their hearts for Him.

II Sunday of Christmas

Sir 24, 1-2.8-12

Eph 1, 6.15-18

John 1, 1-18

In the beginning was the Word ... He came to His own and His own people did not accept Him ...

The words of today's Gospel are a repetition of what we heard on the Christmas Day. It's a great hymn of St. John, where the author, the youngest apostle of Christ gives us in full the profundity of the theological truth about Jesus the Son of God - the Word made flesh, Light, Life and Truth. These words are so beautiful and extremely profound, but it seems that they are difficult to understand and sometimes, "we let them pass by near or over our heads." However, I think one needs to grow up in a certain intelligence, to understand their depth and surrender to their inner strength and power, so that they become full of meaning and splendor for the listener. You have to let you be absorbed by its wisdom and taste them slowly and without haste, like poetry, which reveals its profundity only to experts. Unfortunately, we often cannot afford that, we are much too busy and too rational.

What John the Apostle wants to tell us, is primarily a bottomless truth about the mystery of the Incarnation, which becomes more understandable when you combine it with the mystery of the Redemption. God became man, lived in the human world, from His fullness He gave us "grace upon grace". This alone can clarify and justify the coming of God into the world in human flesh. All that we are and what we will be, all we have and we can have, absolutely everything, we have from Him and through Him ...

John in his prologue also highlights another truth. Sad and frightening truth, the truth that this God, God-Man, Who came to His creature, by this creature was rejected, unrecognized, neglected, and even  ... negated. It is, as if a product, furniture, table, car produced by a human ... told the creator: "I do not know you, you do not exist, I created you, you're just a fabrication of my sick imagination ..."

Often, that's what happens when kids wanting a freedom or "emancipation" with some incredibly perverse mentality reproach and with absurd bitterness turn to their parents, saying: "I am in the world where I did not ask to be! Why did you give me a birth? I do not know you and do not I want to know you! And then, what parents can say? How can they respond to this kind of "wisdom"?

Is it not that I'm resembling this capricious and spoiled child who wants to "liberate himself from an oppressive parental care"?

26. XII. - St. Stephen - Deacon and Martyr

You will be hated by all

Perhaps you do not experience such a situation as Christians in Arab countries, in India, in Indonesia or on Moluccas. Perhaps we are not persecuted and exterminated openly as the Christians in those countries. Perhaps nobody demands from us a witnessing of blood, like in the case of Patron Saint of today. However, if someone wants to be a Christian today, he/she has to be a Christian not just on Sunday, and must be prepared to be misunderstood, to be ridiculed, to be mocked, even from other Christians, and those who are the righteous servants of God and believe have to admit the persecutions. To be a disciple of Christ has never been easy and never will be easy. He -Jesus Christ-was a "sign of contradiction", "stumbling block" and "rock of offense". He has always been and will be. "Whoever wishes to come after me, let him take up his cross and follow me" - these are the words of Him who first took on the cross and hung him in contempt and neglect. And he also said: "The servant is not greater than his master. If they persecuted me, they will persecute you. "(Jn 15:20)

Searching of applause and popularity, compromises and agreements, it is not the style of Christ or His disciples. And you have to be prepared. Bright, clear witness of life and, if necessary, also the death witnessing (it is an unusual grace and not everyone can attain it) is the only way of a true disciple of Christ. Compromises, systems, and diplomacy, is something that is absolutely strange to Christianity. They will ridicule and challenge you, mock and call you: fundamentalist and fanatic, will speak about the need of tolerance and the need for prudence ... but in this case, Christ was most imprudent, backward and nonconformist, fundamentalist and stubborn, the most smug and immune to diplomacy. In this case, all his disciples with St. Stephen were fundamentalists, fanatics and fanatics!

"You will be hated and despised by all. Brother will raise against his brother and father will rise against his own child ... "And maybe that's what you need? Of course, that does not always and not mindlessly, but sometimes you have to be able to go against the current, even if the current of conformism is very trendy and very strong. We are afraid of being ridicule, we fear the unpopularity, but ... holy peace and Peacefulness at any price is not the true PEACE OF GOD. It is only a delusion and lying to oneself and others.

Holy Stephen - the first martyr, help us to be faithful to Christ, despite the temptations of conformity, despite the unpopularity and fear of losing ...

Holy Stephen - pray for us ... conformists ...

Prayer ...

         O Christ, Good Shepherd,

          I thank You for leading me to glory;

          I pray that the flock You have entrusted to my care

          will share with me in Your glory for ever. Amen

Catholic Refugee

The Gracious Assassin

A Deadly Book

walking away ...

Knowing when to go away, is wisdom.
Being able to, is courage.
Walking away with your head held high, is dignity ...

so ... I am walking away with my head held high

Awkward .... but ... is it not true???

The Truth

The biggest battle in the contemporary world especially in the western civilization is the battle against the Truth. The Truth must be killed, distorted, silenced, perversely presented in order to by destroyed.

Since the time of the Old Testament's prophets, through John the Baptist till Jesus Christ -THE ULTIMATE TRUTH- and going on for 2,000 years after Christ ... the Truth is killed, persecuted, silenced, executed, neglected, distorted        in the name of freedom, political correctness, for the sake of peace or happiness, to avoid the scandal, to protect the interest of some powerful persons, to not ruin somebody's career, or to not destroy somebody's image ..... different reasons, one purpose .... destroy the Truth, because it is awkward, difficult, uncomfortable, inappropriate or undesirable ... clumsy.

And yet, as Jesus said "you will  know the truth and the Truth will make you free",

As long as we are avoiding the truth we are not free, we are slaves .... and we will die slaves ....