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"WHERE C'AND ME, (C)'You HOUSE!"THE EPIPHANY MAKES THE WORLD A HOME WHERE THE CHILD GOD AWAITS EACH OF US

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But who really were the Magi? "They were wise, They represented the dynamic of going beyond self, intrinsic to religion - a dynamic search of the truth, search for the true God and therefore also philosophy in the original sense of the word. So the healing wisdom also the message of science: the rationality of this message does not stop with just knowing, but he sought the understanding of the whole, thus set reason to its highest possibilities " [cf. Benedict XVI, The Childhood of Jesus]

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Author
Ivano Liguori, Ofm. Capp.

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Epiphany of the Lord Jesus

The Christmas festivities have the great merit of invite the man to give up their comforts and to verify the work of God which is realized in the world.

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Often recurring verbs in the Gospels Christmas time, resonate as imperatives and forcefully invite the reader to heal from their indifference and take an active part in God's actions. The Incarnation of the Word, It heals us from the paralysis of the heart that is expressed in the inability - or perhaps fear - to meet God, leading us to take their first tentative steps toward a safe house.

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This dwelling is Bethlehem - from Hebrew Home bread verbatim: House of Bread - a place where the Word of God makes itself known and which in its glorification will become true food of salvation and medicine for the sins of humanity.

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I like now approach the Christmas time, Jesus' words said to the paralytic, when is healed: "Arise, take up thy bed and go’ in your house" [cf. Mt 9,6]. The invitation of Jesus to this poor sick shrunken, It enables us to understand how the man was healed when has the ability to accept Jesus the strength to recover from his illness and return to being a household of God.

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"Arise!'He is told, that participates in my will to sanarti; but then he adds "goes’ in your house", ie get a move, returns to the place where there is your true identity [cf. LC 15,18].

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The paralysis that grips the heart of modern man, often it pushes us out by God, But Jesus with his birth brings us inside to a cozy house in which he himself becomes nourishment and sustenance. Then, as for the paralytic, we are called to listen to Jesus. Knowing that the weak gather our forces and stand up from our couch, It hides the sign of a promise to go that does not disappoint:

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"This sign for you: You find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, placed in a manger " [cf. LC 2,12].

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Certainly the most famous strategy of the Christmas season - after the shepherds - are the Magi. But who really were the Magi?

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"They were wise, They represented the dynamic of going beyond self, intrinsic to religion - a dynamic search of the truth, search for the true God and therefore also philosophy in the original sense of the word. So the healing wisdom also the message of science: the rationality of this message does not stop with just knowing, but he sought the understanding of the whole, thus set reason to its highest possibilities " [cf. Benedict XVI, The Childhood of Jesus, Rizzoli, 2012, pp 111-112].

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The Magi with their lives dedicated to the research and knowledge of the truth, help us to understand the danger of a paralysis that makes God a distant relic vintage. They push themselves beyond their means, because the truth must be sought with passion, effort and perseverance. They want to make the holy journey [cf. Shall 84,6], moving away from their country, to finally get to worship the Lord [cf Sal 72,11; Mt 2,2].

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Of these wise Oriental We appreciate the strong sensitivity to scrutinize the tracks that God disseminates in the lives of men and - as well as the wise Daniel [cf. Dn 2,22] - try to interpret the mystery in the everyday of their lives and their work. In them they realize the messianic prophecies that proclaimed the homage of nations to the God of Israel [cf. Nm 24,17; Is 49,23; 60,5s; Shall 72,10-15]. But it is especially in the footsteps of the Magi we can see the simple feeling of joy [CF. Mt 2,9-11] that is the thread of their deepest desire: see God and worship him piously at his home [cf. Shall 5,8].

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Back home after a long time - especially after a long and tiring journey - is undoubtedly a source of joy but at the same time of thanksgiving. Therefore, the man who is able to give thanks, It is the true devotee, the true worshiper, one who intends to devote himself readily to the service of God.

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This attitude is underlined, Once again, the invitation to go, to act. Unfortunately, Nowadays, They see a few devotees, few worshipers but many devozionisti. Devotionism is the counterfeiting of devotion and authentic worship. It is a style of the heart that expects everything from God without the capacity for a possible collaboration with him. The miracle is expected to be served on a silver platter by virtue of the mere aseptic execution of some religious practices. On the contrary, the Magi express their adoring devotion through thanksgiving, presenting the total availability of their person to Jesus, together with the recognition of being in the presence of the divine sovereign redeemer of the world [CF. Mt 2,2].

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Parrot, frankincense and myrrh, it's not just the signs that symbolize royalty, the divinity and passion of Christ but also offerings of thanksgiving - eucharistic - for the theophany of God in Jesus. A Betlemme, the Magi are clothed with a mission: to be - in the house where God becomes a child - apostles to those far from home. They are the first heralds who reveal to the people the splendid light of God's presence in the world. With the joy with which they return to their country, they testify to the truthfulness of Nathan's prophecy to David: "The Lord announces that he will make a house for you" [cf. II Sam 7,11].

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Epiphany, makes the world a home where the child God awaits each of us. So: let's get started and welcome the Lord with true devotion and hymns of thanksgiving, so that we can bow down to him and sing:

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“They will love you, man, all peoples of the earth ".

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Cagliari, 6 January 2019

Epiphany of the Lord Jesus

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