Daily Thoughts: I have always
liked the short story by Henry van Dyke call The Other Wise Man. It was made
into a movie starring Martin Sheen called The Fourth Wise Man. The premise of
the story is that there were not three wise men, magi, from the east but four.
The fourth one's name was Artaban and he was a late to the meeting point from
which the magi started their journey following the star so he was always
playing catch-up with the other magi. He never catches up to them and so he
does not meet Jesus in Bethlehem. By the time he gets there the others are gone
and so is the Holy Family.
Artaban is determined to meet the Christ
so from Bethlehem he sets out on a journey to catch up, to meet the Christ. He
wants to give him some rare stones, jewels, that he has brought along however
Artaban is late for every opportunity to meet Jesus because he is always
stopping to help someone in need. He finally ends his journey after many, many
years in Jerusalem. He is old and tired and he has given all his precious stones
away to help others. He is dejected because he now has nothing to give Jesus if
he meets him.
Artaban finally does meet Jesus as Jesus
is carrying his Cross to Calvary. Jesus tells Artaban that he is thankful for
his many gifts. Artaban doesn't understand because he thinks he has no gift to
give. Jesus tells Artaban that his life has been his gift. Every time he
stopped to help someone it was a gift and Jesus is very pleased with the gift,
it is the best gift!
I always think of this story of the
Feast of the Epiphany of the Lord, because I think Artaban represents all of
us. At birth we all begin a journey to meet the Lord it is called life. We have
many opportunities to encounter Jesus. Sometimes we miss him and sometimes we
don't. Our gift is our life and how we live it. Each time we help others we add
to our gift, each time we help others encounter Jesus we add to our gift, each
time we live life to the best of our ability we add to our gift!
The Feast of the Epiphany of the Lord
reminds us that Christ's presence and message is universal, Jesus came for all.
Our challenge is to bring that message to the world for Jesus by not holding on
to our gift but by giving it to whomever we meet! Let's continue our journey to
find the Christ today let's give our gift!
Happy Epiphany everyone and have a great
Sunday!
Daily Prayer: Loving God,
grant us a faith – that is willing to make the journey of life. A faith – that is
willing to share our gifts with everyone we meet. Grace us with a trust that
enables us to know that in sharing we are truly bringing the gift of your
presence to the world so that everyone on earth my come to know your love!
Amen!
Runner's Thought: Remember every
run had the potential to become a quest for life's meaning in the midst of the
unexciting!
Daily Blessing: Happy Little
Christmas everyone! I hope wherever you are it will be a good day, one filled
with many blessings and much peace. Remember to give God a little time today!
Being that this is the Feast of the
Epiphany also known as Little Christmas I thought I would draw upon a Christmas
prayer for my prayer of blessing today.
May our celebration of the Epiphany be
filled with beautiful experiences and memories of God’s love in your life. May
this presence enhance the living of life. May the example of the wise men’s spirit
of journey be within all of our hearts.
And may the joy of God’s presence in our
life touch the depths of our soul with delight, and may blessings in bushels,
abundant and rich light every path of our lives.
May you have a blessed day and may it be
filled with many encounters of God presence in your life! Remember give the
gift today that keeps on giving – your life. It is also a gift that will bring
you many gifts! Peace in Christ's Passion...Fr. Paul
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