THE MYSTERY OF THE EPIPHANY THE RICH AND GIFTS OF THE MAGI: "GOD IS OFFERING THE PERFECT, THE MAXIMUM, DO NOT WASTE ".

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When Mary and Joseph, the Magi offered gold, they answered: "Do Not, Thanks, l'oro you for data burdens ". They said this because they were aware that God always provides the excellent, the maximum. waste, to God, Cain offered them, as we are told in the Book of Genesis. While in the Holy Gospels false love for the poor we are given to us through the figure of Judas, that when Mary of Bethany anointed the Lord Jesus with precious ointment of spikenard, he showed himself falsely outraged at the waste and said that precious oil could be sold for three hundred denarii and the proceeds given to the poor.

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Praised be Jesus Christ !

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The liturgy of the Solemnity of the Epiphany It is characterized by a strong light [text of the Liturgy of the Word, WHO] that reaches all men: "Word was the true light, that enlightens every man " [cf. GV 1,9].

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This party, which is celebrated 12 days after Christmas, named after the greek reveal themselves [epifàino] What does that mean “I understand poster”. Word from which it derives surface [epifàneia] which means appearance, coming, divine presence. Knowing the meaning of words, how often I explain in my homilies and catechesis in my, it is essential to be able to penetrate the mysteries of faith, which have their own vocabulary, precise and specific; and if there is no language, no one can convey the message of truth, indeed there is a risk to distort. The mysteries of faith have indeed their own precise language that is born and grows over the centuries through the wisdom of the Holy Fathers and the great dogmatic councils of the Church.

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With Epiphany It is celebrated the first manifestation of the divinity of Jesus to all humanity. This happens through the formal visit, the supply of highly meaningful gifts and adoration of the Magi, which are of the high dignitaries of a stranger to the Jewish people and the Mediterranean world. The commemoration of Epiphany, which begins in the third century, It includes the divine manifestations of Jesus. In particular: Adoration of the Magi, Jesus' baptism [cf. MC 1,9-11], and the first “sign” in Cana of Galilee through the miracle of the wine [cf. GV 2,1-12], anticipation in his own way the great miracle and sacrifice of the Blood of Christ the Bridegroom of the Church.

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In time, popular tradition, It decorated with special meanings figures of the Magi: first changing these magicians - term negative today - in magi. It was also stated their number, They were then transformed into King, and they were given a name - Gaspar, Melchior and Balthasar -, along with several physical configurations, so one is the Western world, one Arab and one that the African.

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These magoi, from the description that there is made, It seems to be the astronomers, perhaps they are of the Zoroastrian priests from Persia. However, what remains certain is that before the People of Israel are of “foreigners” who do not know the Scriptures, and the Mosaic Law. Yet are these foreigners to other culture and religion “reveal” Israel and its priests and dignitaries, and they knew what they were waiting, but who had hidden in their underwear. The manifestation of the Messiah to those who were waiting for him was therefore possible for the unexpected intervention of foreign elements. The religious and political world of the time was “illuminated” by the knowledge and wisdom of foreigners held by the Jewish world of Nations [goijm] those in evangelical literature and in that Pauline are referred to as kind, term that primarily indicates the pagans.

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The story of the Epiphany of the Lord and of the three Magi, It can only lead us to a reflection on today's world that seems increasingly invaded by “other”, but with a big difference: yesterday, these foreigners, these "other", ie the magi, following the light of a star they came to show us the coming of the Messiah, and once I had found fell down before him and worshiped him. Today, many of the "other" who often welcome at no prudent common sense, are not at all to worship the Word of God he made man nor to let us know, but to replace the light of God Christ - which for us is the beginning of the center and the goal of our entire humanism [cf. you. Dominus Jesus] - With their false star, affinch'essa be lifted up on what little remains of the Christian faith in our Europe was now in advanced de-Christianization. Or said in other words: It would be like to throw open the doors of a daycare Herod said the great to make things easier for the massacre of the innocents [cf. Mt 2,1-16]. It might be objected that the Word of God, inviting reception, It admonishes us: "I was a stranger and you welcomed me" [cf. Mt 25, 31-46], expression that requires to be understood, however,, not upset. Indeed, to the suffix of this expression and all others that follow, there 'Ego Sum the Word of God, so that in total, exclusive and absolute presents itself as a path, Truth and the Life [cf. GV 14,16]. Because it is in this light that goes Christological understanding the final sentence: "Every time you did it to the least of these my brethren, you did it to me ". Taking into account fact that Christ God speaks among other things of "brothers", not about invaders eager to replace and destroy the very root of His Divine Being unique, sole and absolute, Truth and the Life.

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A speech all apart deserve the gifts brought by the Magi, that in addition to their great preciousness have a precise meaning, starting from gold, an excellent conductor of heat symbolizing as such the work of Jesus, who has faithfully transmitted to us the warmth of the Father. Parrot, considered the noble metal by definition, has the characteristic of not oxidize and does not corrode. The gold is then from the first apostolic times the incorruptibility of faith. This is the reason why our Bishops, teachers and guardians of the faith, They were donated gold crosses, sign about the incorruptibility of faith, certainly not about glitz and princely opulence. This is why, the precious species of the Body and Blood of Christ, in the tradition of the Church has always been placed in precious metals. And in this regard know that St. Francis of Assisi, the true one, his brothers sent them around even barefoot, It could even happen that they did not do one meal a day, but when his brother priests sent them to bring Communion to the sick, this li Mandava con le pissidi d'oro, because - said the poor man of Assisi - "Poverty must end below the altar steps».

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Other precious gift is the incense, which when burned form white clouds that rise to the top and that is our prayers and hymns of praise rising to heaven to God the Father.

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Finally, the Mirra, which it is in the form of reddish round grain with a pleasant aromatic odor. These reddish grains remind us of the drops of blood that covered the face of Jesus in Gethsemane, then his head crowned with thorns and finally his whole body whipped and tortured by crucifixion. This Bitter herb [swell, feverfew] in its symbolism reminds us of the sufferings of Christ, whose life has been marked by persecution from childhood, since the flight into Egypt, to follow with misunderstandings, treachery, abandonment, until the climax: His death on the cross.

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When Mary and Joseph, the Magi offered gold, they answered: "Do Not, Thanks, l'oro you for data burdens ". They said this because they were aware that God always provides the excellent, the maximum. waste, to God, Cain offered them, as we are told in the Book of Genesis. While in the Holy Gospels false love for the poor we are given to us through the figure of Judas, that when Mary of Bethany anointed the Lord Jesus with precious ointment of spikenard, he showed himself falsely outraged at the waste and said that precious oil could be sold for three hundred Sklim [sheqel, plur. sheqelim, currency of Judea, Latinized in shekel, Sicli] and the proceeds given to the poor. Blessed John the Evangelist, narrating this episode, It notes that the Iscariot did not say this because he loved the poor, but because he was a thief. But above, in memory, we should always bring alive the answer given by Jesus: "Let her alone, let her keep it for the day of my burial. For the poor you have always with you, but you do not always have me " [cf. GV 12, 1-8].

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A God always provides the excellent, the maximum. And incidentally: to understand how much of that oil nard that Iscariot had estimated three hundred shekels was really valuable, suffice it to say that at the time the pay of a Roman soldier was a penny. The value of that oil then corresponded to almost one year's pay of a soldier.

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Saw the star, the Magi were overjoyed. No matter the astral event itself. What interests us is the sense: "I see it, but not now, io lo behold, but not near: a check star from Jacob " [cf. Nm 24,17]. The star is Christ Himself [cf. AP 22,16], so it is not visible from the palaces of Jerusalem, because human powers have lack of light [cf. Mt 20,25] and the religious powers of ancient Jewish with all their rules have changed religion into slavery, up to burden people beyond measure: "Load the men of unbearable burdens, and those weights you do not touch with a finger!» [LC 11, 46].

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The Star is moving forward and guides the Magi. Blessed Evangelist Matthew describes the joy of the Magi saw the star in the: the light of the Messiah there lights the way, guides us, It is reflected in our lives so as to cover it with the joy that is changed into that gift of grace that transforms the man to return it to his image and likeness of God. The light of Christ shines upon all aspects of life, or as the prophet Isaiah says: "I was found of them that sought me, I have shown myself to those who did not ask me " [cf. RM 10,20].

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Just lift your eyes to the sky to see the star and then follow, without ever get off the darkness; and the light of Christ we will seize the shadows to envelop us in the mystery of the light of God's Word made flesh.

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In this festival of light, echo the words of the Prologue to the Gospel of John the Blessed Apostle who speaks of the mystery of the Word made flesh: "The light shines in the darkness, but the darkness has not overcome it " [cf. GV 1,5]. Although yesterday, as unfortunately, many light "has not overcome it", or worse: trying in every way to turn it off, in a world in which, to the christocentrism, It has been long since replaced the’uomocentrismo.

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We pray that before this divine light that manifests and reveals the mystery of the incarnate Word of God, can resonate and then take root in our hearts the desire Pauline:

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"I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me. This life in the flesh, I live by faith in the son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me " [Maybe 2, 20].

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the Island of Patmos, 6 January 2019

Epiphany of the Lord Jesus

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