REFLECTION

 

THE EPIPHANY

Javier Guativa

 

The feast of the Epiphany (the feast of the manifestation of the Lord to all humanity) is the feast of light. “Rise up in splendor, Jerusalem! Your light has come, the glory of the Lord shines upon you” (Is 60:1). With these words of the prophet Isaiah, the Church describes the content of this beautiful Feast.

Matthew is the only evangelist who tells the story of the Magi who came to see the newborn Messiah. Mathew’s account aims to show that Jesus is the promised Messiah, that he fulfilled what the prophets announced about the Gentiles arriving to Jerusalem (Is 60:6; Sal 72:10+). It also shows that God has expanded His blessing and privilege of the historic Israel to the Church, largely Gentile.

Focusing on Matthew’s account, let us see how we can put it into practice what the Gospel teaches us, so that this Feats of light can illuminate our path, as the star illuminated the path of the Magi from the East to Bethlehem.

“Behold, magi from the east arrived in Jerusalem” (Mt 2:1b)

To start living the “manifestation” of God in our lives, we have to leave from where we are. God wants to be present in our lives, but it depends on us to start walking.

It would be good to ask what kind of journey are we invited to travel. From where do we have to leave? What are the attitudes that we have to change?

God wants to be present in our lives and to enlighten our way, but this will be difficult if we do not cooperate, if we are anchored in the same place, arguing that our own perspectives and opinions are the only valid points of view.

“Where is the newborn king of the Jews? We saw his star at its rising and have come to do him homage” (Mt 2:2).

The “manifestation” of God is silent: a star! Beautiful and at the same time distant. Do not expect from God something so powerful that it may force us to act, because if we do, we will be going the wrong way. The Magi could have ignored that sign and have continued with their daily lives.

Throughout our lives God brightens our way with lights that allow us to glimpse the path, but we must be attentive, vigilant. The manifestation of God does not bring large banners. When we feel that God is silent, we should know that He speaks in a language that is unique.

We are invited to be led by the contagious light of the Lord and by other people who are continuously present in our journey; understanding life as an “adventure”; risking to accept the challenges of a future marked by the enthusiasm and hope that leads to Bethlehem, to a joyful encounter.

“Then Herod called the magi secretly (…) After their audience with the king they set out. And behold, the star that they had seen at its rising preceded them, until it came and stopped over the place where the child was” (Mt 2:7a; 2:9).

The Magi are a good example of how to overcome the dark nights that we have in our journey of faith. The Magi sensed that when they entered the palace of Herod (a place of power and wealth) the star disappeared.
 

The only thing that the Magi found in Herod’s palace was jealousy and the king’s fear of losing its power. Like Herod, we too can be tempted to shine, to cling to the little “kingdoms” we have instead of serving others. Then our life becomes bitter and bitterness affects others, because we do not find peace.

The Magi sensed that Herod, the new Pharaoh, wanted to enslave them. Resuming the path of silence and humbleness on which they started, they went away and the star shined again, the Magi overcame darkness and were filled with joy.

“And having been warned in a dream not to return to Herod, they departed for their country by another way” (Mt 2:12b).

We are transformed by the experience of encountering the presence of God in the world. After this encounter, we can no longer live as we did before. We must take the path of love and fidelity, sacrifice and selflessness, joy of daily work well done, patience in the contradictions and gentleness in dealing with others. This is the path that leads us to walk, as new stars of Bethlehem for others.

The early Christians, by reading the episode of the Magi, understood very well that Jesus would be the salvation for all humanity. Today, let us feel closer to the Magi, wise companions who encourage us to raise our eyes and see the stars that continue to illuminate our path.

 

 

REFLECTION 

A “SELFIE” WITH A CELEBRITY

Dolors Puértolas

I’d like to begin this reflection considering two words that we today use often (and maybe together in the same sentence): “selfie” (a picture taken of yourself with your mobile phone) and a celebrity.

The sociologist Neil Postman[1] says, recollecting something often noted, that our current culture is a culture of the image (or television), as opposed to the previous culture that was of the book and reading (or printing). And certainly, the image dominates in this century well above the written text. A long list of authors have mentioned this paradigm shift.

Some time ago it was autographs that proved that we had met someone, but now it is the "selfie" we can show from our phone, share on Facebook, whatsapp or by other means. And it seems that a lot of people are interested in having "selfies" with celebrities. The passion for "selfies" may denote an emphasis on the importance of one’s self-image rather than one’s values​​, insight or thought. It can also suggest some self-centeredness. In the case of "selfies " with celebrities, it seems that we are talking about getting some kind of trophy to show off to others.

A few days ago I considered taking a "selfie" with someone who has been in a certain way a celebrity for me in this past year. This is someone that I value as important and is significant for me. In August we learned of the need of a young woman, 27 years old, of an urgent heart surgery. We contacted friends and some people who had met Altagracia and knew of her disease. Thanks to the response of many, she was able to have her surgical procedure done successfully in October, recovered and is in good health.

When I went to visit her, I wanted a "selfie" with Altagracia.  And I took it.  I considered that a woman of her age, married, who lost their first baby by complications in the pregnancy, and is at this later age studying to have a degree due to lack of financial resources, who is struggling to support a family, and she had to face not only a surgery of life and death but also the challenge of not having resources and be forced to seek funds anywhere… That is for me a well-rounded celebrity!

And also she is a celebrity because it was around her person and her need that a number of people felt touched and responded generously to the call. So doubly important.

If we stop to remember from this past year an important person with whom we would take a picture, perhaps what will come to mind is a different kind of celebrity: a fighter for human rights, a person with good values ​​, a person who has suffered ... Each of us will have our own “important” person, whether it be a relative, an acquaintance or even (why not), many anonymous people, who may have abandoned a country fleeing from hunger, to escape war or searching for a better future for their children. Those we can think of would be so many that would not fit into a single "selfie." Let us look back for a moment on the past year and imagine which celebrity we’d like to make a selfie with.

PS: (I never published the “selfie,” it didn’t turn out, but it is well guarded in my heart).

---

[1] Neil Postman, Divertirse hasta morir, La Tempestad, Barcelona 2013.

REFLECTION 

THE STAR OF HOPE

Michael Wolfe

We all know well the tradition of Mary and Joseph going to Bethlehem for the census, and that it was there that Jesus was born (Luke 2:1-7). Today, if you visit Bethlehem, you can go to the Church of the Nativity, which is built over the grotto that is traditionally held to be the place of Jesus’ birth. There in the floor is a silver star meant to mark the place where he was born.

The pious practice within the Church of the Nativity is to kneel by the star and kiss it; but in order to reach the star, one must bend down, as there is a low ceiling.  This of course lends itself to having a reverent approach to the site, but it also serves as a reminder to us who visit there that if we have to stoop down to reach the place, how more so was it for the Son to humble himself in this great way?

www.sacred-destinations.com

I have been blessed with the opportunity to visit the Church of the Nativity.  And it is certainly a powerful experience to kneel down and kiss the site that tradition has held as the place where Jesus was born for at least 1700 years.  But what struck me most when I was there was when I walked out of the church and looked out at the modern city of Bethlehem.  Social conflict is prevalent and obvious throughout the city, and is most captured by the gigantic military wall that runs withinit.  Regardless of one’s thoughts on the wall, it stands as a clear demonstration of the level of conflict that exists in the region between different cultures, societies and peoples. 

This same region in which Jesus was born has been the meeting place of very different cultures, societies and peoples since even before his time.  In many ways, it is the place where East meets West.  Such diversity was the case during Jesus’ life as well - it says a lot that the Gospel of John specifies that the sign placed on the cross was in three different languages (John 19:20). With great difference oftentimes has come great discord and violence

So it struck me that day in Bethlehem, after having bent down to venerate the silver star, that it was at this place on Earth that Jesus was born: the meeting place of peoples throughout the world.  Indeed, how fitting that this be the site where all of humanity was lifted up to new dignity through the grace of God, by the Son taking on human form.  Likewise, how fitting that this site, so full of violence throughout human history as those differences collide, be where the Prince of Peace entered into human history. 

Christmas is the day when we commemorate this event of incomparable import for all human kind.  It is good that we celebrate it with different signs of love for our families, friends and coworkers. Such signs are through food, cookies, gifts and social events. But hopefully, as we reflect on the significance of the day, we also remember the stranger, the other, those who are different from us. For that event that we celebrate, which is marked by that silver star in the floor, was for all of humanity.  Thus regardless of differences, we are called by our belief in Jesus to acknowledge the dignity of each and every human person.   

THE COMMUNITY OF SAINT PAUL WISHES YOU A MERRY CHRISTMAS!

BEGINNING OF THE YEAR OF MERCY 

Last week on the Feast of the Immaculate Conception (December 8), Pope Francis launched the Extraordinary Jubilee Year of Mercy. The opening of the Holy Doors in St. Peter’s Basilica in the Vatican, and later in hundreds of cathedrals, sanctuaries and churches worldwide, aims to strengthen the testimony of the faithful throughout the world.

In the Bull of Indiction of the jubilee year we read: “Jesus is the face of the Father’s mercy, (Misericordiae Vultus 1). The same day marked the 50^th Anniversary of the conclusion of the Second Vatican Council, and in his bull, Pope Francis cites John XXIII from the inauguration ceremony of the Council. He said that in our time the Church “prefers to use the medicine of mercy, rather than taking up the arms of severity (…), the Church wants to show herself a loving mother to all, patient, kind, moved by compassion and goodness toward her separated children,” (from Misericordiae Vultus 4).

The celebration of this Jubilee Year will conclude with the Feast of Christ the King on November 20, 2016.  May the theme of the year “merciful like the Father” permeate our language, our gestures and deeds, offering them to Jesus such that he “pour out his mercy upon us like the morning dew, so that everyone may work together to build a brighter future,” (Misericordiae Vultus 5).

WEBSERIES: BOLIVIA FROM THE FOUNDATIONS

On the occasion of the celebration of the Universal Children's Day on November 20, we published on our Spanish blog the link to to the webseries BOLIVIA FROM THE FOUNDATIONS. Here, we continue the celebration and offer the link to the first video of the series, which features the work of the Community of Saint Paul in Cochabamba in Casa San José (St. Joseph's Home) and the rural area surrounding the city. Casa San José works hard for the reinsertion of boys and youth that have been living on the street into their families. In the rural area of Cochabamba, the Community of Saint Paul carries out agricultural, animal rearing and reforestation projects. We thank the institutions that made this series possible:  Asociación Nuevos Caminos and CreaRSA.

Please click here to view the first of the 6 part series - each video is about 5 minutes long and they have English subtitles.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FUHZmUYEAe8