Epiphany 2018: Showing God to a Godless World
T , the second Sunday after Christmas, the Catholic Church celebrates the Epiphany or manifestation of Christ to the - and so did the Church before the
So, how exactly are we sup Christ to the world?
urge charity and justice toward others, so that the love of Christ would be manifest in our compassion and
There may also be some disdain expressed toward praying neighbor, like the priest and the - bery victim in the Parable of the
Helping the needy is certainly not just the hallmark of being
Now, what are the greatest needs in our world today?
For sure, top of the list for most people are food, clothing, shelter, and livelihood for the poor; peace for the victims of war and terrorism; healing for the gravely ill, and dignity and justice among those suffering discrimination
When God goes missing
people, God is missing, yet not or want, and no one will point to nations and people rise in wealth and learning, they seem to need
love to the needy and the oppressed through acts of charity and struggles for justice, Christians may well make people think that human goodness and righteousness is all we need in this world,
Godliness with the poor and suffering, man may end up displacing God in their minds and
room for God in their contented the shepherds on Christmas night sharing a hearty meal, generous gifts, and delightful banter, with much jollity and friendship, but
So it is with many, if not most people in our time, especially the young generation steeped in gadgets, gimmicks and gigs,
- what our faith preaches, this near- or even total absence of feeling and living is not what
make disciples, not democracies, of all nations, because that is the way to the greatest joy and glory God wishes for man: to join Him in
Pope Francis holds the book of the gospels as he celebrates the Epiphany Mass at St Peter’s Basilica at the Vatican on January 6, 2018.
Show and tell the world
So, what may well be the greatest bounty our world needs is the one
for Christians is the very event we celebrate today: manifesting
Show Him and tell His Good
speaks that three-letter word or anything remotely religious, the people who need to hear it turn away, roll
be illegal to speak of Christ, dis
even be dangerous or deadly where Godless ideology or ex
to share Christ supposed to do?
life, as the homilist may urge, still conveys His tenets and His love,
not be amiss, since one is merely -
In times of trouble for others, there may also be occasion to sug distressed will not begrudge any offer of solace and succor, even
are violated, one can stand up for righteousness, justice and compassion, with or without the Source and Sustainer of all
fearsome moments when declaring our Lord and Savior would dispatch our lives and souls to Him, the holiest among us may brave blade and bullet, bid the accept the myrrh of mortality,
Then God willing, the souls who know Him not, will glimpse His goodness, grace and love in what we say, do, and stand for — and will wonder if they might