Vatican City, 6 January 2014 (VIS) –
Today, the Solemnity of the Epiphany of the Lord, Pope Francis
celebrated Holy Mass in the Vatican Basilica. After the proclamation
of the Gospel and the announcement of the day of Easter, which falls
on 20 April this year, the Pontiff pronounced a homily.
The Holy Father considered the
expression “Lumen requirunt lumine”, which refers to the
experience of the Magi: “following a light, they were searching for
the Light. The star appearing in the sky kindled in their minds and
in their hearts a light that moved them to seek the great Light of
Christ. The Magi followed faithfully that light which filled their
hearts, and they encountered the Lord”.
“The destiny of every person is
symbolized in this journey of the Magi of the East”, continued the
Pope. “Our life is a journey, illuminated by the lights which
brighten our way, to find the fullness of truth and love which we
Christians recognize in Jesus, the Light of the World. Like the Magi,
every person has two great 'books' which provide the signs to guide
this pilgrimage: the book of creation and the book of sacred
Scripture. What is important is that we be attentive, alert, and
listen to God who speaks to us”.
“The Gospel tells us that the Magi,
when they arrived in Jerusalem, lost sight of the star for a time.
They no longer saw it. Its light was particularly absent from the
palace of King Herod: his dwelling was gloomy,filled with darkness,
suspicion, fear, envy. Herod, in fact, proved himself distrustful and
preoccupied with the birth of a frail Child whom he thought of as a
rival. In reality Jesus came not to overthrow him, a wretched puppet,
but to overthrow the Prince of this world! Nonetheless, the king and
his counsellors sensed that the foundations of their power were
crumbling. They feared that the rules of the game were being turned
upside-down, that appearances were being unmasked. A whole world
built on power, on success, possessions and corruption was being
thrown into crisis by a child! Herod went so far as to kill
children”.
“The Magi were able to overcome that
dangerous moment of darkness before Herod, because they believed the
Scriptures, the words of the prophets which indicated that the
Messiah would be born in Bethlehem. And so they fled the darkness and
dreariness of the night of the world. They resumed their journey
towards Bethlehem and there they once more saw the star, and the
Gospel tells us that they experienced 'a great joy'.
“One aspect of the light which guides
us on the journey of faith is holy 'cunning'. This holy 'cunning' is
also a virtue. It consists of a spiritual shrewdness which enables us
to recognize danger and avoid it. The Magi used this light of
“cunning” when, on the way back, they decided not to pass by the
gloomy palace of Herod, but to take another route. These wise men
from the East teach us how not to fall into the snares of darkness
and how to defend ourselves from the shadows which seek to envelop
our life. … We need to welcome the light of God into our hearts
and, at the same time, to cultivate that spiritual cunning which is
able to combine simplicity with astuteness, as Jesus told his
disciples: 'Be wise as serpents and innocent as doves'.”
“On the feast of the Epiphany, as we
recall Jesus’ manifestation to humanity in the face of a Child, may
we sense the Magi at our side, as wise companions on the way”,
concluded the Holy Father. “Their example helps us to lift our gaze
towards the star and to follow the great desires of our heart. They
teach us not to be content with a life of mediocrity, of 'playing it
safe', but to let ourselves be attracted always by what is good, true
and beautiful… by God, who is all of this, and so much more! And
they teach us not to be deceived by appearances, by what the world
considers great, wise and powerful. ... We must press on towards
Bethlehem, where, in the simplicity of a dwelling on the outskirts,
beside a mother and father full of love and of faith, there shines
forth the Sun from on high, the King of the universe. By the example
of the Magi, with our little lights, may we seek the Light and keep
the faith”.
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