WORD ALIVE
A story is told about a Franciscan, a Jesuit, and an SVD who paid homage to the Christ Child in Bethlehem. The Franciscan was interested in the manger to serve as reminder of the poverty and simplicity their Order professed.
The Jesuit was more interested to have Jesus enrolled at their school Ateneo.
When they looked around for the SVD, he was nowhere to be found. They discovered later that he ran after the Three Kings – soliciting donations for the mission!
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Today we celebrate the feast of the Magi or Epiphany. Magi were wise men or enlightened astrologers. The feast is also called “epiphany” (from the Greek word ‘epiphanein’) which means “manifestation.”
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Christ as the Messiah manifested himself not only to the Chosen People (Jews) but to all, whether Christians or non-Christians. Hence, the teaching of certain church denominations that they – and only they – will be saved contradicts with the message of the Bible, particularly today’s Epiphany event.
What messages can we learn from the Magi episode? According to the evangelist Matthew, the wise men searched for the new-born Child. Searching requires courage and perseverance.
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It takes a strong conviction to be faithful to one’s religious principles and to preserve moral integrity. This recalls the much-publicized honest taxi driver Emilio Advincula, many years ago, who was a poor man, struggling to support his wife and children. Just that auspicious morning, he had been worrying about how to repay a debt to his brother-in-law.
When he saw the bag left behind by a balikbayan woman on the passenger seat of his cab, he never dared open it, remembering what his mother had often told him as a boy: “No matter what, never take anything that’s not yours.”
The bag contained some ₱2 million worth in cash and jewelry. Despite the alluring temptation to run off with the valuables, he stuck to his moral conviction and returned them.
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Not too long ago, “Reader’s Digest” conducted a study called the “wallet test” wherein wallets containing some money were dropped in the sidewalk or in restaurants. When they were returned and the honest persons who found them were interviewed, the result revealed that family upbringing and religion were the main factors that motivated the finders to return the “lost” wallets.
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In married life, it takes patience, perseverance and one’s religion to help a husband or wife be faithful in a milieu where infidelity and broken marriages abound.
That’s true, also, in one’s work and commitment. St. Mother Teresa of Calcutta exemplified faithfulness and perseverance.
When she was asked about her difficult task of serving the poorest of the poor, a man queried: “Mother Teresa, don’t you get tired of your work,and think of retiring, and enjoy your remaining years?” Mother Teresa paused for a moment and replied: “I was called by God not to be successful but to be faithful.”
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Let’s imitate the fidelity and perseverance of the Magi, the honest taxi driver Emilio Advincula, and St. Mother Teresa. Jesus reminds us, saying: “He who perseveres to the end (in faith and integrity) will receive the crown of eternal life.”
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The lighter side. “Dear God, all I ask for the New Year is a ‘fat’ wallet and a ‘thin’ body. And please don’t mix them up... like you did last year!”
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“Do you know what would have happened if there had been three wise women instead of three wise men?
The three wise women would have asked for directions, arrived on time, helped deliver the Baby, cleaned the stable, cooked food, and given practical gifts.
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Start the new year right. Help poor seminarians under our Adopt-a-Seminarian scholarship program.
Donate an amount or buy magnetic Rosary bracelets. The proceeds will go to our seminarians’ financial support. ([email protected])