{"id":231,"date":"2010-01-18T10:24:43","date_gmt":"2010-01-18T10:24:43","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/frtonynoble.org\/wordpress\/?p=231"},"modified":"2010-01-18T10:25:02","modified_gmt":"2010-01-18T10:25:02","slug":"epiphany","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/frtonynoble.org\/?p=231","title":{"rendered":"Epiphany"},"content":{"rendered":"

THE MYSTERY OF GOD\u2019S PRESENCE<\/span><\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span><\/span><\/em><\/strong>SERMON PREACHED BY FR. TONY NOBLE ON SUNDAY JANUARY 3rd 2010<\/span><\/strong><\/em><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Ephesians 3<\/span><\/em>?<\/span><\/em>3<\/span><\/em>?<\/span><\/em> “The mystery was made known to me by revelation “<\/span><\/em><\/em><\/span><\/p>\n

& verses<\/span><\/em>: 9-10<\/span><\/em>?<\/span><\/em>“The mystery hidden for ages in God who created all things that through the Church the manifold wisdom of God might be made known”.<\/span><\/em><\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

W<\/span>e have entered a new year, and a new decade<\/span>?<\/span>and tod<\/span>ay<\/span> we conclude our Christmas celebrations with the Epiphany – a mysterious feast on many levels.\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>The Magi, the Wise-Men, these kings, these astrologers, were in the East last week<\/span>?<\/span>surrounding the altar<\/span>?<\/span> <\/span>T<\/span>hey crept down the church during the week, and today we have carried them to the Christ Child<\/span>?<\/span>where now they kneel and worship him.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

During the week I was explaining to a woman why the Church keeps the arrival of the wise-men after Christmas<\/span> –<\/span> that is on the twel<\/span>th<\/span> day, the actual feast day <\/span>of the Epiphany<\/span> having by tradition been <\/span>J<\/span>anuary 6th<\/sup>.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

The woman was surprised<\/span>.<\/span> <\/span>S<\/span>he<\/span>,<\/span> like most people<\/span>,<\/span> had assumed the wise-men were part of the Christmas day event.\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>She had never connected the concept of the Epiphany with the carol<\/span>,<\/span> <\/span>T<\/span><\/em>he twelve days of Christmas<\/span><\/em>. One of the reasons that carol is about the lover bringing a gift to the beloved is because it <\/span>ha<\/span>s to do with the kings arriving twelve days after Christmas.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

I<\/span>n actual fact they arrived far later<\/span> –<\/span> up to two years according to the understanding of the Scripture.\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>As our conversation continued, she<\/span>,<\/span> expressing<\/span> a<\/span> typical sense of humor<\/span>,<\/span> said: “I<\/em><\/span>f ins<\/span><\/em>t<\/span><\/em>ead of<\/span><\/em> wise-men it had been three wise-women they would have brought sensible gifts, cleaned up the stable, and arrived on time”<\/span><\/em>!!<\/span><\/em><\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

The three wise-men and their arrival is a mysterious edition to the Epiphany story<\/span>,<\/span> in the proper sense of the word<\/span>.<\/span> <\/span>A<\/span>nd we all like a mystery don’t we?\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>The whole journey was mysterious<\/span>.<\/span> <\/span>W<\/span>e can only comprehend how they traveled from wh<\/span>ere<\/span>ver they came<\/span>.<\/span> <\/span>S<\/span>ome say they came from Persia, some say they came from Arabia, and in some traditions one is black and one is Chinese – so the sense is that they have come a<\/span> <\/span>long way over two years.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

In f<\/span>ollowing that star for such a long time<\/span>,<\/span> they were obviously astrologers who saw in it some meaning.\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>These kings, these wise-men, these astrologers arrive finally at a stable<\/span> –<\/span> of all places<\/span>,<\/span> having called in at the palace in Jerusalem <\/span>– <\/span>and honor as a king this new born baby lying in a manger.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

The great Anglican writer T. S. Elliott wrote a poem called “The Journey of the Magi”<\/span>. In it<\/span> he writes <\/span>of<\/span> the difficultly they faced in their journey.\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>The poem begins with one king saying: “a cold coming we had of it”<\/em><\/span>,<\/span><\/em> and describes a journey through the depths of winter<\/span>.<\/span> <\/span>I<\/span>t goes on to describe the difficulties of the journey<\/span>,<\/span> and it concludes, because of the gift of myrrh<\/span>,<\/span> with the wise-men reflecting on death<\/span>. A<\/span>nd of course, the death of Christ – King, and God, and Sacrifice<\/span>, as<\/span> we s<\/span>i<\/span>ng in the <\/span>tr<\/span>a<\/span>ditional<\/span> carol.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

But we don’t think of the journey and what it must have been like<\/span>.<\/span> <\/span>W<\/span>e dwell on the star and the gifts, and the arrival of the kings in all its mysteriousness.\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>In fact the arrival is more significant than the journey itself<\/span>. This<\/span> is perhaps a parable of our own lives<\/span>, as w<\/span>e journey through life<\/span>,<\/span> hop<\/span>ing<\/span> to arrive one day at our heavenly homeland.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

So as we begin this year of our Lord 2010 and leave last year behind, we are probably thinking about our journey ahead<\/span>.<\/span> <\/span>Also<\/span> what we have left behind now that we have arrived at this new year, this new decade<\/span>.<\/span> <\/span>A<\/span>s we reflect we can say that our journey through life is with both joy and sadness, with both disappointment and pleasure.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

E<\/span>very year as we reflect, we look forward in hope to a better year<\/span>.<\/span> <\/span>I<\/span>n contrast<\/span>,<\/span> when we arrive at something that seems significant we have new vision and new hope for what lies ahead.\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>The mystery of life we might call it.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

I<\/span>n his letter to the Ephesians Saint Paul talks about mystery in a particular way. For him the Nativity of Christ is arrival at the revelation of God’s mystery<\/span>,<\/span> and the fulfillment of the ancient mysteries<\/span>.<\/span> <\/span>I<\/span>n a way<\/span>,<\/span> that’s what the wise-men represent<\/span> –<\/span> all those ancient mysteries and philosophies and religions now arriving at the feet of the new-born Christ Child, who<\/span>,<\/span> Saint Paul says, is the revelation of God’s mystery through the ages.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

And this is the particular meaning of th<\/span>e <\/span>feast<\/span>.<\/span> <\/span>I<\/span>t is the arrival of all the ancient <\/span>thing<\/span>s at the feet of <\/span>him who <\/span>is <\/span>the <\/span>fulfillment of the ancient mysteries<\/span>.<\/span> <\/span>T<\/span>his revelation of God’s mystery.\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>Christmas is about the arrival of Christ our Lord, not just the wise-men<\/span> –<\/span> and there is a sense of mystery in the arrival of both Christ and the wise-men.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

T<\/span>heir arrival today points to a mysterious presence<\/span> –<\/span> the presence of God in that little manger<\/span>.<\/span> <\/span>T<\/span>his is the mystery of all mysteries<\/span>,<\/span> that God would lower himself and be in that squalor and humility as the revelation of all the mysteries of God.\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

The presence of God in the manger.<\/span> <\/span>In my sermon on Christmas day I spoke of presence as a reality and adding quality to our lives<\/span>.<\/span> <\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

P<\/span>resence<\/span>.<\/span> <\/span>T<\/span>he presence in our lives of those we love, and the presence of God in life.\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>Many people think that the Christian religion is about action and activity and preaching<\/span>.<\/span> <\/span>I<\/span>ndeed<\/span>,<\/span> as the year unwinds we’ll be exhorted to be active, to <\/span>d<\/span>o t<\/span>hings<\/span>.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

These things<\/span> –<\/span> action and activity <\/span>–<\/span> are surely just the result of what is really at the heart of Christianity<\/span>.<\/span> <\/span>F<\/span>or at the heart of Christianity is not the activity<\/span>,<\/span> but the presence of Christ amongst us<\/span>.<\/span> <\/span>T<\/span>he quiet humble presence that we acknowledge today, and the mysterious presence through the year, through our lives<\/span>.<\/span> <\/span>T<\/span>hat is the heart of the Christian religion<\/span>\u2026..<\/span>the presence of Christ.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

T<\/span>hat is why the Eucharist is the cent<\/span>e<\/span>r of our lives as Christians<\/span>.<\/span> <\/span>F<\/span>or here we encounter the presence of Jesus<\/span>,<\/span> and receive that presence into our very selves<\/span>.<\/span> <\/span>Here<\/span> the presence of God in all its mysteriousness becomes real and alive within us, so that somehow we might be the presence of Christ in the world.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

As these three kings kneel, worship, and adore, we are surely drawn by them to the presence of God in the manger.\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

God’s relationship with the world has come to this point in time.\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>God created the world<\/span>.<\/span> God formed his own people Israel, and he sent prophets to them<\/span>.<\/span> <\/span>N<\/span>ow he comes to his world in a personal presence.\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>These three kings recognizing this fact kneel and adore<\/span> –<\/span> and this is how it must be.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

As I said on Christmas day<\/span>,<\/span> in our lives we cannot bear to leave friendship and love at a distance.\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>It is the same with God<\/span>.<\/span> <\/span>H<\/span>e does not want to be at a distance from us, he wants to be a presence in our lives<\/span>.<\/span> <\/span>A<\/span>nd his personal presence is not beyond our grasp<\/span>.<\/span> <\/span>I<\/span>t is within kneeling distance <\/span>– <\/span>as these three kings show us.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Later on in th<\/span>e<\/span> Mass we will reach out our hands for that same presence of God<\/span>.<\/span> <\/span>A<\/span>nd again we will be just within kneeling distance of his presence<\/span>.<\/span> <\/span>A<\/span>nd like them<\/span>,<\/span> we will not be disappointed.\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

T<\/span>he mystery of the Epiphany is also the mystery of Holy Communion<\/span>.<\/span> <\/span>F<\/span>or the personal presence of Christ is not left at the manger<\/span>,<\/span> but is offered wherever God’s people celebrate the Eucharist<\/span>.<\/span> <\/span>A<\/span>nd so with these three kings we come today to adore, and to acknowledge both the mystery of that presence, and the presence of that mystery.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

THE MYSTERY OF GOD\u2019S PRESENCE \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 SERMON PREACHED BY FR. TONY NOBLE ON SUNDAY JANUARY 3rd 2010 \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Ephesians 3?3? “The mystery was made known to me by revelation “ & verses: 9-10?“The mystery hidden for ages in God who created all things that through the Church the manifold wisdom […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[13],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-231","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-recent-sermons"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"http:\/\/frtonynoble.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/231","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"http:\/\/frtonynoble.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"http:\/\/frtonynoble.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/frtonynoble.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/frtonynoble.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=231"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"http:\/\/frtonynoble.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/231\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"http:\/\/frtonynoble.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=231"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/frtonynoble.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=231"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/frtonynoble.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=231"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}