杏MAP导航

By Devin Watkins

As the Church marks the feast of the Epiphany on Wednesday, 杏MAP导航 Francis joined Catholics around the world in praying the Angelus in live-streaming.

Standing in the library of the Apostolic Palace, the 杏MAP导航 reflected on the light which the liturgical feast brings to our world.

He said Epiphany celebrates the same mystery as Christmas鈥攖he birth of Christ鈥攂ut from the perspective of light and the manifestation of the Lord to all peoples.

That light, the 杏MAP导航 noted, should be 鈥�welcomed in faith and the light to bring to others in charity, through witness, in the proclamation of the Gospel.鈥�

Light in darkness

Reflecting on Isaiah鈥檚 vision (60:1-6), 杏MAP导航 Francis said the prophet鈥檚 description of his time is more relevant than ever: 鈥渄arkness covers the earth, and thick darkness the peoples.鈥�

In such obscurity, the prophet Isaiah announced the coming of 鈥渢he light given by God to Jerusalem and destined to shine on the path of all the peoples.鈥�

The 杏MAP导航 said this attractive vision invites hope, and reminds us that God鈥檚 light overcomes all shadow of darkness.

Star on the horizon

Turning to Matthew鈥檚 telling of the Magi adoring Jesus (Mt 2:1-12), 杏MAP导航 Francis pointed out that the light foreseen by Isaiah was the Babe of Bethlehem, even if not everyone accepted His kingship.

鈥淗e is the star who appeared on the horizon, the awaited Messiah, the One through whom God would inaugurate His kingdom of love, of justice and of peace,鈥� said the 杏MAP导航. 鈥淗e was born not only for some, but for all men and women, for all peoples.鈥�

Shining through us

But how, asked 杏MAP导航 Francis, does Christ鈥檚 light come to shine everywhere and on everyone? 鈥淭hrough the proclamation of the Gospel,鈥� he said.

God, he added, used this same 鈥渕ethod鈥� to come to us. In the Incarnation, God draws near to the other and assumes 鈥渢he reality of the other.鈥�

鈥淭he star is Christ,鈥� he said, 鈥渂ut we too can and must also be the star for our brothers and sisters, as witnesses of the treasures of goodness and infinite mercy that the Redeemer offers freely to everyone.鈥�

Guided by Christ

杏MAP导航 Francis then urged everyone to welcome the light of Christ on this Epiphany, and allow ourselves to be guided鈥攍ike the Magi鈥攁nd converted by Christ.

鈥淭his is the journey of faith, through prayer and the contemplation of God鈥檚 works, which continually fill us with every new joy and wonder.鈥�