Jan 1 Feast of the Epiphany - Searching out for God

One of my most feared or even despised emails, comments, or conversation starters begins along these lines: “Father, you know what you SHOULD do?”  Sigh. Yes, I know what I should do, and it usually involves either a fly-fishing rod, my skis or a warm beach with blue water.  People have opinions which is great. People also have agendas of which they wish everyone to hear and obey; not so great. A priest said it is like people who think they know how to pilot the plane because they have been riding as passengers for decades.

What do people expect from Christ, of our Catholic-Christian Faith?  Or better, what do we search for in our faith? Not MY faith, but OUR faith.

We face a challenge here in this country with our faith and the practice of our religion. Abusers use it to validate their mis-use of power; to justify their racist, sexist, nationalistic attitudes, and/or to hoard wealth. People seek to maintain the status quo because they remain comfortable in it.

What do we search for by following Jesus Christ and becoming more full disciples?

I love that part in John’s Gospel when Jesus asks the two “What are you looking for?” and he tells them “Come and See”.

Saint Archbishop Oscar Romero had an epiphany, an awakening. A man considered bookish and easy to control, he had his eyes opened to the corruption of El Salvador and his heart opened to the Gospel. He changed and became someone more. Yes, he paid the ultimate price. All for the Greater Glory of God.

The Magi came to the perceived seat of power in search of the new king. They did not find him there. They had to find the true power in humble settings. They did not find money, wealth; they did not find a status quo. They found a person, a baby; in a family setting. The Epiphany to the world.

There is a sadness and an anger when I encounter people, nominally Catholics, who have made no efforts to live the faith. Yet, as they approach their final days they want the priest to come and place oil on their heads because that will get them into heaven.  There is sadness too when people stop deepening their faith. They form a stereotype of what they believe Catholicism, Jesus and God is about, and they won’t go beyond that. They will not allow themselves to become more awake, more alert.  Sadness because there is a richness to our faith, that will push us as persons to become more engaged in living.

Our faith is more than just getting into Heaven. It is more than an ethical code for us to strictly follow in our lives. It is more than just trying to explain bad things as God’s anger toward sin.  

Jesus Christ points to us God; God who desires a connection with us. Jesus directs us to God who wishes for humanity to be free to explore our humanity in all its wonders; which means living with a sense of responsibility towards others, living with a sense of the dignity of all life; living with a sense of our own inherent dignity and to not allow ourselves to be treated as mere objects.  Jesus points to God that wants us to transcend and build community; through forgiveness, generosity, compassion, kindness.  Jesus desires we awaken that God lives in those moments in which we give of ourselves for others; when we forgive, when we transcend our egos and our desires, when we reach out.  Jesus reveals that the fullness of life is one in which life is lived with and for others, otherwise known as love. It is about being humble and in doing so, finding so much more control.

All of this though means we need to take that risk, that challenge, to leave our safe places and journey.

What we search for in Christ, this fullness of life, will also change. It means something different for us as 9 years olds, as 15 years old, as twenty something etc…  Regardless of our age, our circumstances, Christ brings a deep truth to our lives: a Truth of dignity and love, a Truth of beauty and growth; a Truth of unity and diversity. All of this signified and symbolized in our weekly Eucharist.

I have witnessed people’s eyes being opened and an energy when they have gone deeper in the faith; studied scripture, read some theology. One of my joys is when they come up and say “Father, did you know….” because they learned something more. Or the look of release when they finally experienced true forgiveness and the anger they held for so long has dissipated. Or Joy when they have truly give for the good of another…

It is all there for us, waiting for us to make that journey, to find the Christ.