You Are Not Of This World: The Epiphany

Readings for the Day:

Reflection:

This is an interactive manuscript. To follow links, click the highlighted words below.

You are not of this world.

This is the sentiment Jesus presents to His Disciples, and by extension us, throughout the Gospel according to John. It also could be said to be the theme of the Gospel appointed for today.

Epiphany means to be made manifest, specifically God being manifest in the world. We remember that through the birth of Christ Jesus as made known to the Magi through the Star.

Now the Magi knew enough to know the birth the Star proclaimed was in the land of Israel. What they didn't know was where specifically in Israel to find the Christ Child. Understanding the Messiah to be the "King of the Jews", they went to the logical place for information. They went to the palace.

But King Herod the Great didn't know where to find the Christ Child. It took the scribes, the studiers of Scripture, to tell them where to go. Herod, for all his power, did not have this information.

Furthermore, Herod is scared of this Child, not knowing how His power would impact Herod's own. He tried to use the Magi to find Jesus and kill Him.

God's power is not of this world. It is not in the political power or structures we create for ourselves. It is beyond that. If we are to be the Lord's, we must be beyond this world too. That is the lesson the Magi learned as they depart for their country "by another way."

Yet God's power is still made manifest to the world at large. Even though they were not of God's Chosen People, the Magi saw where the Lord was and chose to follow. Our hope is that through our making God manifest, others will follow Jesus too.

We are not of this world because God is not found in the powers that be in this world. Yet we are still called to make God manifest to the world in hopes that others will abandon the powers that be and instead follow God and God's power made perfect in weakness.