Adrienne's Corner

Epiphany

The Epiphany is the feast of the manifestation of the majesty and divinity of the newborn Savior. The Epiphany is the high point of Christmas and the fulfillment of Advent. If you are worn out from the frantic pace of the past few weeks, the Feast of the Epiphany is a good time to jump-start our enthusiasm. Not only do we celebrate the visit of the Magi but also, the Baptism of Our Lord and the first miracle of Jesus at the wedding feast of Cana.

What we were still hoping for at Christmas has truly come to pass as we, as well as the whole world, recognizes Jesus for who He really is. If the Feast of the Epiphany is to be fully understood as the Church sees it, it will have to be viewed from two aspects: that of God who manifested Himself to man, and that of man, typified in the Magi, who responded with wholehearted faith and love.

The Three Kings were in search of the only one who could satisfy the deepest longings of the human heart. They wanted to find the very meaning of their existence. Because they were open to this calling, they received the gift of faith.

Our secular society presents one of the greatest obstacles to our spiritual journey. Secularism doesn’t care about the immortal soul, but only the here and now. One of the ways we are caught up in this thinking is with the sheer magnitude of possessions we acquire.

About this time every year I tend to take a hard look at what I own, or rather, what is owning me. Moving things around our house to accommodate a Christmas tree is my first clue that we may have more than we need. Imagine if the Magi, having received the call, had to pack 6 suitcases, close up a house, arrange for mail pick up, clean the fridge, and the thousand other tasks associated with travel. I highly doubt we would be celebrating the Epiphany today. We must have space and time in order to respond to the call. When our time and space is over committed, we are severely handicapped.

Yesterday was the beginning of my annual purging of the household. It is a practice I highly recommend for those on a serious journey to allow God more fully into their lives. This is not a “ladies only” practice. Gentlemen, take a look at your toolbox, book collection, or sports equipment. If you have 20 screwdrivers like we do, there is a problem. Our “stuff” takes up space, time, and energy that rightly belongs to God.

One of the wonderful traditions for Epiphany is the blessing of our homes. While blessing your home, make a decision to start an annual purging. Give to others what you have too much of and give God the space He needs.

I have included this link with information on the blessing of your home. And, if you are in any doubt about your stuff, here is a link to George Carlin’s famous routine on “stuff.”