EPIPHANY / A
Lectio divina on Matthew 2:1-12
will adore you, Lord, all peoples of the earth
Lectio divina on Matthew 2:1-12
will adore you, Lord, all peoples of the earth
Invoking
Father merciful, You have called me to meet you in the word of the Gospel, because you want me to live, want to give me everything yourself. Please, send hours on me, is' pour your Holy Spirit from me, your love of light and fire as they may be led along the path of this holy Gospel. No your words fall empty, no seeds that you throw in the field of my heart is stolen by evil, nor stifled by pins or dried dall'arsura, but bears the good fruit, which is Jesus your Son, our Lord, in my life and the lives of my brothers.
May I, today, get out of prison to put me in my journey and come looking for you, can recognize the star you light as a sign of your love, my path to follow without getting tired, with intensity, with the commitment of my life, I can finally get into your house and see there the Lord will bend with humbly before you, to adore and give you my life, everything I am and what I have. And finally, Lord, for your grace, may come back for a new way, without going more for the old paths of sin. Amen.
Read
1 Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of King Herod, behold, some wise men were from east Jerusalem, saying, 2 "Where is he that is born King of the Jews? We have seen check his star and have come to worship him. 3 On hearing this, King Herod was troubled and all Jerusalem with him. 4 together all the chief priests and scribes of the people, he inquired from them about the place where Christ was born. 5 They answered, "In Bethlehem of Judea, for thus it is written by the prophet: 6" And thou Bethlehem, land of Juda, art not the last of the major cities of Judah, from you shall come forth a leader who will in fact the shepherd of my people Israel. " 7 Then Herod summoned the wise men to tell them you did exactly the time when the star had appeared 8 and sent them Bethlehem, saying, "Go and search diligently on the child, and when you find him, let me know, because I too may go and worship him. 9 heard the king, they departed. And lo, the star they had seen break, before them, till it came and stood over where the child was. 10 When they saw the star, proved the greatest joy. 11 into the house they saw the child with Mary his mother, bowed down and worshiped him. Then they opened their treasures and offered him gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh. 12 warned in a dream not to return to Herod, another way they returned to their country.
A moment of silent reflection so that the Word can enter into us and enlighten our lives.
useful steps to meditation
24.17 Nm, 3.1 Ml; 1Chr 19.12, Is 9.1 to 6, 60.1-6, Ephesians 3.2 to 6, from 4.14 to 15 Mt 1 Cor 1:27; 2 Cor 8:9, Rom 11.17-24, Phil 2:6-7.
Understanding
Epiphany is a word that comes from greek and means "manifestation." On this day we celebrate it assured that the Lord God demonstrates his love for every person that you see and know the men and women from all over the world. St. Paul writes that "was manifested the mercy and love of God to men." This is the Epiphany we celebrate: the revelation of God in human flesh, that is the revelation of the interest and the love of God for man.
This passage gives us the beautiful story of the journey of the Magi, who come from afar, because they want to seek and accept, love and worship the Lord Jesus But their long journey, their tireless research, the conversion of their hearts are realities about us, have already written on the roll of our sacred history. This text also gives us the great joy of the Magi to have found what they sought. The great joy of life is to find what you seek! We know what we want?
But in this episode is not only the meaning of Christ, but also the Church. The page of the Magi is a solemn declaration of mission and universalism. This episode recalls the conclusion of the whole Gospel: "Go and make disciples of all nations ..." (28:18). Two pages that open and close the missionary story of Christ, with one difference: in the episode of the Magi are the people who come to Jerusalem at the end of the Gospel and the Church sent to the world. This second record expresses a deeper understanding of the mission as a service, such as going out of himself to go in search of others.
Meditation
vv. 1-2: Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of King Herod, behold, some wise men were from east Jerusalem, saying, "Where he that is born King of the Jews? We have seen his star tick and have come to worship him. of Matthew Chapters 1-2 collect the infancy of Jesus The second chapter opens with the Adoration of the Magi to Bethlehem, the birthplace of David and place of origin of the future king messiah. To confirm this, I cited Matthew 5.1 to 3.
The greek word magician (hence the term magi Italian) has a wide range of meanings: Persian priests, keepers of supernatural powers, astrologers: they are the image of the distant coming to faith. They are the wisdom that comes from elsewhere, the Gentiles, not of the same religion. The mention of "star" shows that they are experts in astrology. The Christian tradition has identified them with rulers from the East (this is not to think of Mesopotamia, the birthplace of the greek world of astrology), and set this number to three, drawing on the gifts they offer. The gold, frankincense and myrrh echo the Ps 72.10, Is 60.6.
The arrival of the Magi is the sign that Jesus fulfilled the ancient promises, but the performance is accompanied by an opinion on Israel: the distant neighbors and welcome the Messiah reject it. The entire Gospel of Matthew is marked by a surprise: just think of the parable of the Wicked Tenants (21.33 ff.) Or the parable of the great banquet (22:1-14), both show that the kingdom pass from Israel to the Gentiles; and that this step is part of God's plan
For these men, the result of a life that sees the stars and moves to travel fairly and honestly, it's a question: "Where is the king of the Jews?" not a Reply! Attention, not the king of Judea, but the king of the Jews.
The first word of God addressed to Adam is: "Where are you?" (Gen 3:9) because the man asked to turn to God, where are you? And the two could meet. Even by the magi is simply hidden in their application, the invitation addressed to us to ask who is this child.
Epiphany, states and does not break the birthright of Israel: they are Jews, theirs is the sonship, the glory, the covenants, they were given the Law, the worship, the promises, the patriarchs, from them comes Christ according to the flesh (Rom. 9:4-5 ).
These magi were astrologers, who are neither kings, nor three, nor whites or blacks. There are scholars who have seen a star for a sign. The star, the light is human reason that more and investigate and research to lead man to truth. The Magi not only see but not move, leave their certainties to search for the truth.
The story of the Magi illustrates the theme of the tried and rejected Christ, the Messiah is the sign of contradiction.
three times in the story of the Magi is the greek word adoration, which of itself shows the bend in the veneration of human greatness of God (Mt 2,2.8.11). This gesture seems to anticipate what the evangelist said later: "Many will come from east and west and receive a meal ..." (8:11). After worship, take the intimacy expressed through the symbol of the banquet. Unfortunately, humanity often, "he worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator" (Rom 1:25). "Sanctify Christ as Lord in your hearts," said Peter in his letter (1 Peter 3:15). However, worship is not merely an act of fear, it is also the expression of adhesion joyous, freedom and intimacy.
This act, the desire of the Magi at the beginning of Matthew's Gospel, I find the end (28:17), by the apostles after the resurrection of Jesus at the time of his ascension to heaven.
v. 3: On hearing this, King Herod was troubled and all Jerusalem with him. So Jesus is king. Matthew must be careful to place this title in a context of opposition. Next to the King Messiah is King Herod. And the second is afraid of the first. In that sense Jesus is true king? A nod to the royalty was present in the genealogy: David is the king, and Jesus is descended from him. But David and Jesus is the exile, the end of the reign of David, the loss of all political prestige: Jesus is king, but without a crown.
The rest of the Gospel better clarify this: the title of king is attributed to Jesus only in the context of the Passion, which occurs with some insistence. This passion is the place where one can grasp the true significance of Jesus' royalty, a royalty other than that to which men are accustomed to. Unfortunately, Herod with his pride will not enter into this dimension of the kingship of Jesus is believed the only absolute monarch, others are merely usurpers. The reality and the truth is difficult to accept, to welcome, to feel and live. This is for everyone. The illusion creates always disappointment when falls. The illusion is a security to which we cling, which is why we do everything because it does not fall. It 's a safety, a wall that prevents us from seeing what is painful and difficult for us to accept. When the illusion falls inside you hear his voice: "What?" And remain shaken, you'd never believe it. It 'just the point: any illusion that it forces you to change his belief.
vv. 4-6: Assembling all the chief priests and scribes of the people, he inquired from them about the place where Christ was born. They said, 'In Bethlehem of Judea, for thus it is written by the prophet: "And thou Bethlehem, land of Judah, are really the last of the major cities of Judah, from you it will come out a leader who will be the shepherd of my people Israel. "
inquire which means there is a search. But beware the search for Herod is negative misses the presence of Light. Paradoxically, it may happen that the Gospel says: Neighbors unaware of the presence of light. Herod lived eight miles away from Bethlehem, so close, he could easily find the child. He was not found. The Magi are far from the physical point of view, spiritual and moral, and yet they walk, the light is enough to give them a route to salvation. For this is the paradoxical mystery of Christmas we must welcome and make our own.
many ways we are neighbors, but this does not guarantee. I must close as we manage to capture this light, to be enlightened. And if we're apart for one reason or another, but we can remember that Christmas is for us, the manifestation of the Lord is for us. We're not that far from not see the light. None so far. The light of God went to bother the wise men there were. So no one is so far from not being able to see this light. It is to all who are given the opportunity to turn their wandering pilgrim, his wandering aimlessly along a path which has the half the love of God, the place where the love of God is manifested.
Herod knows, through the prophet Micah that the Messiah must be born in Bethlehem (I 5, 1), but did not seek him out. Know the Scriptures, the truth about where he lives is not sufficient to meet the Lord. The Lord is found in things small and minimal, if we do not choose this path ... it will be hard to find. One experiences what is one of the tragedies of human history and at the end of the story of the election of the Lord God called, and when the Lord calls us, loves with a love of predilection. But who is loved, and who is chosen, must be careful not to process the call and election in privilege, as if God's election puts him above the others in a position of power. Why a view of Scripture is God's election: it has chosen a people. But he has not chosen because the people moving away from self to others, but because it would make the instrument, because through him the love and favor of God became universal, because all the other people watching the people and sees his relationship with God were conducted to seek the Lord.
vv. 7-8: Then Herod summoned the wise men, they say they did exactly the time when the star had appeared and sent them to Bethlehem, saying, "Go and search diligently on the child, and when you find him, let me know, because I too may go and worship him. Secrecy is the opposite of the trip because only those who have a stable place, the places to hide may be secret, travelers of all needs, is visible, can not be secret. The meticulous investigation of the king, disguised devotion, conceals, in fact, the narrow interests of man concerned to safeguard his power. The king of the Jews, in fact, he was, he believed to be the reference point and the unity of its people. Now this "star" suddenly appeared in the sky, is to disrupt its prospects, is to compete with its authority, its wealth, its prestige.
He too, like Israel, was aware of the ancient prophecies concerning the Christ, the Anointed One of God's knowledge that is not love, a knowledge that the service is only what interested him: the power. He, like his countrymen, he imagined, however, as a political leader, with strength and power, a dangerous competitor, then that should be removed before it was too late.
vv. 9-11: Having heard the king, they departed. And lo, the star they had seen break, before them, till it came and stood over where the child was. When they saw the star, proved the greatest joy. Entered the house they saw the child with Mary his mother, bowed down and worshiped him. Then they opened their treasures and offered him gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh. reappears star (note that this appears again, after "go away" by Herod and Jerusalem), which moves along with the wise men and leads them to the exact location of the presence of the Lord Jesus
When God enters the life of men do it again using a "language" that the recipient can understand, thus revealing his condescension: we must not, therefore, look for signs of the presence of the Lord out of our history, but read our newspaper in the light of the Word of God to discover the "stars" and "troughs" in where do you find the Lord. The Magi
experience a joy ... feel joy ... the presence of the Lord fills my heart until it startled joy. Her vision filled with a profound joy that only God can give to man, to the people, that which enables us to move beyond ourselves, overcoming obstacles and contradictions, to communicate to others what has happened in our meeting with Light. The announcements
prophetic words of Jesus are full of joyous leaps and happiness. "The people that walked in darkness have seen a great light on those who live in the land of gloom a light has shone. You have multiplied the joy, you have increased the joy. They rejoice before you as you rejoice when the crops are and how one rejoices when he shares his prey ... Because a child is born to us, we have been given a son. On his shoulders is a sign of sovereignty and is called: Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace will be his great domain, and the endless peace "(Is 9.1-6, cf. Mt 4 0.14 to 15).
Joy is the sign of the presence of God Where God is love, joy, peace. The wise men in this "child of suburban" recognize "the king of justice, and love it discover in Jesus the one who had long sought. Then he saw "the child and mother have their hearts, their treasure and prostrate themselves in adoration. In other words, adhere God's plan that saves people from small and poor and the powerful and violent as Herod.
the Magi offered significant gifts that allow us to grasp the mystery in all its depth: gold, frankincense and myrrh. In itself, those deals are the symbol of recognition of Jesus as Messiah, to which they are presented a tribute of veneration, as suggested by the Bible: Psalm 72, 10-11 (offered by the liturgy), and 49.10 in January, Num 24 , 17, I 5.1-3, Is 49.23, 60.1 to 6.
Gold, represents what one has, and is a sign of kingship, incense, invisible, a sign of what you want, the deity, myrrh and indicates that care and heal humanity, what man is, his mortality. In front of the Infant God put all the wise men themselves and receive from him who he is. This act of homage
calls the Christian to live everyday existence with good works, through prayer and sacrifice.
v. 12: warned in a dream not to return to Herod, another way they returned to their country. Having watched and loved the Lord, the wise men receive revelation from God himself, is he himself who speaks to them. There are new men, have in themselves a new heaven and new earth. Dell'Erode are free from the deceptions of the world and therefore return to life for a whole new way, that discernment had indicated their (Cf. 1 Kgs 13.9 to 10). After meeting with Christ, we can not go back on the same road. Changing lives, changing the route. The encounter with Christ must lead to a turning point, a change of habits. It is a strange journey of the Magi do not know where that leaves and returns do not know where. A journey that has only the name and the only joy of a star that guides them.
The Gospel in the mind of the Church Fathers
Gold means wisdom, as evidenced by Solomon, a precious treasure is on the lips of the wise (LW 21:20). With the incense is burned in honor of God, expresses the power of prayer, as the Psalmist bears witness: my prayer direct to your presence as incense (Ps 141.2). Myrrh is symbolized by the mortification of our flesh, and for this the holy Church says of his followers who are fighting to the death: my hands dripped with myrrh (Song 5:5). We therefore offer gold to the king that is born, if we shine before him for the splendor of supernatural wisdom. We burn incense on the altar if the thoughts of the heart through the sacred land of yearning prayer ... We offer myrrh if repress the vices of the flesh by virtue of abstinence. Our home is heaven, and with it, after meeting Jesus, you can not go back retracing the route by which we have strayed. From our home we we found it far because of pride, of disobedience, chasing things that appear ... and it is therefore necessary that we come back in tears, practicing obedience, disregarding things visible and restraining the desires of the flesh. So we return to our country by another way: far from finished joys of Paradise because of earthly pleasures, we can return through repentance (Gregory the Great, Homilies on the Gospels 10.6-7).
merciful Providence, having recently decided to rescue the world was in ruins, ruled that the salvation of all peoples might be fulfilled in Christ.
one time it was promised to Abraham numerous offspring that would be generated not after the flesh, but in the fruitfulness of faith: it was compared to the multitude of stars because the father of all nations are not waiting for a race on earth, but heavenly.
Enter, then enter the family patriarchs of the great mass of people, and children receive the blessing of the promise as the stock of Abraham, and to renounce this the children of his blood. All peoples, represented by the three wise men, worship the Creator of the universe, and God is known not only in Judea, but throughout the land, because everywhere "in Israel is great his name" (Ps 75, 2) .
beloved sons, taught by these mysteries of divine grace, celebrate the joy of the spirit on the day of our birth and the beginning of the call to faith of all nations. We thank the merciful God who, as the Apostle says, "has put us in a position to share in the inheritance of the saints in light. And 'he who has freed us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of his beloved Son "(Col. 1: 12-13). The Isaiah announced: "The people of the Gentiles, who sat in darkness saw great light and those who dwelt in the land of gloom a light has shone" (Is 9, 1). Of these Isaiah also says the Lord: "People who do not know you I call, and they ignore the people who will flock to you" (cf. Is 55, 5). "Abraham saw that day and rejoiced" (Jn 8, 56). Rejoiced when he met the sons of his faith would be blessed in his seed, that is in Christ, and when he saw that his faith would be the father of all peoples. He gave glory to God, fully convinced that what the Lord had promised he would put in place (Rom 4: 20-21). This day was singing the Psalms David said, "All the people who have created will come and worship before thee, O Lord, to give glory to your name" (Ps. 85, 9), and again: "The Lord has made known his salvation to the nations he has revealed his righteousness "(Ps 97, 2). All this, I know it was achieved when the three wise men, called away from their countries, were led by a star to know and worship the King of heaven and earth. This star urges us to imitate the very service that it lent in the sense that we must follow, with all our strength, the grace that invites all to Christ. In this effort, my dear, you must all help each other. Shine as children of light in the kingdom of God, where they lead to sound faith and good works. Through our Lord Jesus Christ with God the Father and the Holy Spirit lives and reigns for ever and ever. Amen. (Leo the Great, Sermon for Epiphany 3, 1-3 5).
Some questions for personal reflection and comparison
I feel really attracted to the place of Lord, desiring to find him, to be with him? I know enough, I know all of the Messiah to be born and where?
The Magi do not seek the king of Judea, but the king of the Jews. The king is the model of man, the image of God as a model, what image I try?
I can say that the "glory of God" transformed my actual experience, my concrete way of thinking and living?
Who I trust, really? To whom I give my treasures, my efforts, my commitment to this world?
Praying
Raccogliamoci quietly retracing our prayers and respond to the Lord in his own words (from Psalm 72):
O God, entrusted to the king, your right,
the son of the king your justice,
he judge thy people with justice and your poor
under the law.
In his days the righteous will flourish and peace abound
,
until the moon.
and dominated by sea to sea,
from the river to the ends of the earth.
The kings of Tarshish and the islands bring tribute,
the kings of Sheba and Seba offer gifts. All
king, worship him, serve him
all nations.
Why he will deliver the needy who invokes
and the poor who are helpless.
Have pity on the weak and needy
and save the lives of the poor.
contemplative act
Epiphany we celebrate today is to open our lives to the encounter with Christ and all open spaces as possible because he takes possession of our hearts and our minds, to taste the joy of belonging and live for Him, with Him and in Him
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