St. Paul of
the Cross Monastery
A Sermon on the Feast
of Epiphany
Homilist: Fr. Don Ware, C.P.
Updated January
2004
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Over the holidays I enjoyed the Third Part of the
Lord of the Rings, Return of the King. In the first two weeks of
its release it has taken in almost ½ billion dollars. When
I went to see it during its first week of release most of the people in
the sold out theater were 20 somethings. So many young adults seemed
attracted to a story about the struggle of good against evil, and darkness
against light; about the companionship of good people – the great, alongside
of the not great – the simple everyday folk all joined together in fellowship
against the forces of the evil fellowship.
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This long, complex, three part movie depicts
the adventurous and dangerous journey of many good people who join together
to battle the darkness and wickedness and evil of their world. The
movie praises courage, friendship, faithfulness, bearing with the sufferings
of the struggles against evil. It portrays evil as evil… whether
vanity and pride, selfishness and self-absorption, needless violence and
destruction of our beautiful world.
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Hundreds… thousands are flocking to see this
movie, among whom are many of our young adults, to at least glimpse lives
of bravery and conviction, lives dedicated to a cause larger than self-aggrandizement
and easy consumerism, to see even common folk engaged in a struggle of
good against evil, of light against darkness. How our world needs
to know that life is something more than enlightened self interest and
entertained consumerism, more than just buying “stuff” to make us happy.
I The Feast of Epiphany
Does today’s feast have anything meaningful to say
to our modern quest for meaning in a world filled with “stuff”?
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Listen to the Opening Prayer:
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Father of Light…
Today you reveal to people of faith
The resplendent fact of the Word made flesh.
Your light is strong,
Your love is near;
Draw us beyond the limits
Which our world imposes,
To the life
Where your Spirit makes all life complete.
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The first Reading speaks of darkness covering
the earth and confusion reigning among the people. Then God’s light
shines forth in the midst of the darkness, and the people rejoice.
The second reading speaks of God’s plan being
revealed and God’s graciousness being made known to God’s people. The Gospel
describes the beginning of the journey of God’s own Son among us, bearer
of God’s light, revealer of God’s plan. The wise come from afar to behold
this revelation of Light…But already we glimpse dangers and peril…Darkness
and evil…Is any person’s life without darkness or peril ? Even the very
Son of God among us?
III So What?
The question arises now… ok, that was then?
What about us now?
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I believe we must all ask for God to continue
to reveal God’s graciousness and light in our lives and in our world, which
seems so beset by darkness and peril, selfishness and wickedness. For we
followers of the Light of Christ believe that our lives continue the journey,
we continue the very work of Christ. Our lives are about more than consuming,
and being consumed by what we consume.
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Listening to the Opening Prayer where we pray
that God’s light… draw us beyond the limits
which our world imposes… We see the danger of
“falling in love with cars!” Of using people.
We recognize the shallowness of being addicted
to shopping, even in this season of shopping,
as if shopping would fill our hearts, which are
made for God alone.
IV Resolutions
How might we get very practical about all of this?
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The New Year is a time of Resolutions. Perhaps
we could make some resolutions, asking God’s help with the darkness and
perils of our journey.
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Let’s give some examples…
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For school students… grade school, high school,
and even college. Where is the darkness? For what might we
pray and ask God’s help? Remember, when we pray we recognize that we are
not alone in facing the darkness, we recognize that our God of Light is
with us, to help us with the struggles of our journey, and our lives are
a journey – from God, and to God. So students – for what shall you pray,
and for what can we join you in prayer?
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Let us pray against the darkness and evil of
cheating and lying, of bullying and making fun of others. Let us pray for
strength to stay away from drugs and alcohol, and easy sexual misconduct.
Let us pray for strength to live honestly, to care for others, and to help
those in need. And let us resolve to pray for this each day.
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Adults… for what shall you pray, and for what
can we join you in prayer – for we are all companions on the journey and
God would not have us journey alone, we who are the Body of Christ in this
Church today. So adults, for what shall you pray, and for what shall we
join you in prayer?
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Let us pray for husbands and wives, that they
grow in their love and appreciation and respect for each other. For parents
and grandparents that God give them the Light of Wisdom as they confront
the struggles of their journeys. For singles, that God bless them with
healthy friendships and keep them from self-centeredness. Let us resolve
to pray this each day.
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For workers that God give them strength to be
honest and prudence to deal with other “difficult” fellow employees. Let
us resolve to pray this each day.
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For elderly that God strengthen them as they
face the challenges of growing older and help them to see the opportunities
available now in their lives to grow closer to God and to care for others.
Let us resolve to pray this each day.
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For all of us as citizens, that God give us concern
for our city, state and nation and world, that God help us move beyond
complaints and cynicism to help where possible, and present our world’s
needs in prayer. Let us resolve to pray this each day.
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And for what in particular do you pray for today?
As you come to this altar in a few moments to receive Jesus, God’s light
and graciousness, into your heart, ask for the help and strength you need
on your journey, pray for the companions that God has given you for your
journey, and be sure to thank God that God has blessed you so much. For
we know our journey’s end, when every tear will be wiped away, where the
darkness of sin will be no more, and where we and our loved ones will rejoice,
gathered around the God who loves us.
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