Dear Friends,
Happy feast of the Epiphany! We recall this weekend, the visit of the Magi from the East to the newborn King of the Jews, to Jesus our Lord. This feast reminds us that Jesus’ kingship is universal and total. He truly is the Lord of heaven and earth, and of the entire universe, all of creation.
It is intriguing that these foreigners recognized the moment of fulfillment in God’s divine plan for the world’s salvation and yet Herod and those in Jerusalem, members of God’s people, were greatly troubled, unperceiving, and unaccepting of God’s grace within their midst. The Scriptures and the prophets all testified to Jesus coming and to God’s work of grace. Yet, they remained in the shadows of darkness.
This should be a warning to us. We are recipients of God’s light, of His glory, of His riches poured forth through the Passion, Death and Resurrection of Jesus Christ. We are not to walk by the dim light of this world, or of the culture, or of governments, or social media, or anything else in this world. For everything in this world is passing and will fade away. By faith, and utter trust in God and His ways, we are radiant with His glory, His hope, His joy, knowing that He has prepared a place for us in His eternal and everlasting Kingdom.
Friends, the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ is not reserved to some future time or place. His Presence and grace are available now! The Spirit has revealed that all who accept and surrender their life to Christ are copartners with Him and recipients of His power to live by grace in the present circumstances of life in this world. We only need to consciously surrender to the Lordship of Jesus, to accept the Father’s Will in obedience, and to walk humbly by His light, praying and praising Him in all things.
In and through His Mystical Body, the Church, Jesus gives us all that we need to be passionately His disciples, recipients of His power to build God’s Kingdom here and now while always looking confidently to everlasting life. May every blessing and grace be yours and your loved ones in this New Year. Praised be Jesus Christ! Now and forever!
God bless you, God love you,
Monsignor McCulken
