SIXTH DAY WITHIN THE OCTAVE OF EPIPHANY

Sixth day within the Octave of the Epiphany

   

Meditations for the Octave of the Epiphany

By Richard Challoner

Consider, first, how great an evil it is to lose Jesus by willful sin! Ah! it is a far greater loss than if we should lose the whole world besides; for in losing him we lose our all. And yet, how common is this loss! How often is Jesus lost in this manner even on our most solemn festivals, by the abuse of these holy times! And how is it possible for a Christian soul to admit of any comfort, joy, or pleasure, under so great a loss.

Consider, secondly, that the blessed Virgin and St. Joseph were no sooner sensible they had lost Jesus, but they began to seek him with all diligence, and gave themselves no rest till they had found him. Not enduring to remain for ever so short a time at a distance from him, they hastened back to Jerusalem. And they sought him sorrowing, that is, with their souls full of grief and anguish: to teach us that the true way to find Jesus when lost, is by sorrow influenced with love, the properties of a contrite and humble heart. They sought him with perseverance: to teach us not to desist upon meeting with difficulties and oppositions in our search after Jesus, but to go on with diligence, till we recover his gracious company.

Consider, thirdly, that Jesus was not found by the blessed Virgin and St. Joseph amongst their kindred and acquaintance. Alas! he is too often lost in the company and conversation of our worldly friends; but is very seldom to be found there. 

The common conversation of the world is at the best but empty, dissipating and vain; and it is out of fashion to speak or think of Jesus in the company of worldlings. Therefore, the soul that would effectually find him, must withdraw as much as may be from worldly company; she must make the best of her way by pious reading, meditation, and prayer, to the temple of God in Jerusalem; or rather, she must make a temple for her Jesus within her own self, and seek him there by inward recollection. This is the surest place to find him in.

Conclude, if at any time you have reason to apprehend that you have lost Jesus, to withdraw immediately from the crowd, to seek him in his temple in your own interior; and to give your selves no rest till you have found him there. There he will hear you; and there he will teach you.

   Roman Breviary - Matins          

                 First Lesson                 

The Lesson is taken from the Epistle of the Blessed Apostle Paul to the Romans - (15:1)

We then that are strong ought to bear the infirmities of the weak, and not to please ourselves. Let every one of you please his neighbour in that which is good, to edification. For even Christ pleased not Himself, but, as it is written: "The reproaches of them that reproached Thee fell on Me." For whatsoever things were written afore time were written for our learning, that we, through patience and comfort of the Scriptures, might have hope.

               Second Lesson    

Now the God of patience and consolation grant you to be like-minded one toward another, according to Christ Jesus, that ye may with one mind and one mouth glorify God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. Wherefore receive ye one another as Christ also received you, to the glory of God. For I say that Jesus Christ was a minister of the circumcision for the truth of God, to confirm the promises made unto the fathers; but that the Gentiles glorify God for His mercy; as it is written:  " Therefore will I give thanks unto Thee, O Lord, among the heathen, and sing praises unto Thy Name." And again He saith: "Rejoice, O ye nations, with His people. And again: praise the Lord, all ye nations, and praise Him, all ye people."

               Third Lesson

And again Isaias saith: "There shall be a root of Jesse, and He That shall rise to reign over the Gentiles, in Him shall the Gentiles trust." Now the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that ye may abound in hope, and in the power of the Holy Ghost. And myself also am persuaded of you, my brethren, that ye also are full of love, filled with all knowledge, so that ye are able to admonish one another. Nevertheless, brethren, I have written the more boldly unto you in some sort, as putting you in mind; because of the grace that is given to me of God, that I should be the minister of Jesus Christ to the Gentiles, sanctifying the Gospel of God, that the offering of the Gentiles may be made acceptable and sanctified in the Holy Ghost.

Lessons 4,5,6,

The Lesson is taken from the Sermons of St. Fulgentius, Bishop

(5th on Twelfth-day)

The same God Who in the Old Testament had commanded the first fruits to be offered to Himself, being born as a man, Himself consecrated to His own worship the first-fruits of the nations. The Shepherds were the first-fruits of the Jews, and the wise men of the Gentiles. The first came from near at hand, the second from afar. "Where is He," say they, "that is born King of the Jews?" Herod, the king of the Jews, had already had children. Archelaus was born in a palace, Christ at an inn; Archelaus was laid in a silver cradle, Christ in a manger. And yet the wise men sought, not Archelaus, but Christ; they did not even name him that was born in a palace, but when they found Him That lay in a manger, they fell down and worshiped Him.

Who is the King of the Jews? The Poor and the Rich, the Lowly and the Exalted One. Who is the King of the Jews? He Who, being carried at the breast, is adored as the Eternal; He Who lieth tiny in the manger, and is He Whom the heavens cannot contain; He Who is meanly wrapped in swaddling clothes, and is more glorious than all the stars. Why art thou troubled, O Herod? He that is born King of the Jews cometh not by carnal warfare to conquer other kings, but by a marvellous working, by dying, to subdue them to Himself. He is not born to be thy successor, but that the world may faith fully believe in Him. He cometh, not that He may fight in the flesh, but that He may conquer through the suffering of death.

The little Child, Whom the wise men call the King of the Jews, is the Maker and Lord of Angels. If thou fearest Him at His birth, thou hast more reason to fear Him as the Almighty Judge. Fear Him, not as a pretender to thy kingdom, but fear Him as Him Who will pass a most just sentence of condemnation on thee because thou hast not believed in Him. "Go," saith Herod, " and bring me word again, that I may come and worship Him also." We know thy cunning lying, thy godless unbelief, thine iniquitous treachery. The blood of the innocents which thou didst cruelly shed, is witness to us of what thou wouldest have done to Him.

Lessons 7,8,9

The Lesson is taken from the Holy Gospel according to St. Matthew - (2:1-12)

When Jesus therefore was born in Bethlehem of Juda, in the days of king Herod, behold, there came wise men from the east to Jerusalem. Saying, Where is he that is born king of the Jews? For we have seen his star in the east, and are come to adore him. And king Herod hearing this, was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him. And assembling together all the chief priests and the scribes of the people, he inquired of them where Christ should be born. But they said to him: In Bethlehem of Juda. For so it is written by the prophet:

 And thou Bethlehem the land of Juda art not the least among the princes of Juda: for out of thee shall come forth the captain that shall rule my people Israel. Then Herod, privately calling the wise men, learned diligently of them the time of the star which appeared to them; And sending them into Bethlehem, said: Go and diligently inquire after the child, and when you have found him, bring me word again, that I also may come to adore him. Who having heard the king, went their way; and behold the star which they had seen in the east, went before them, until it came and stood over where the child was. And seeing the star they rejoiced with exceeding great joy. And entering into the house, they found the child with Mary his mother, and falling down they adored him; and opening their treasures, they offered him gifts; gold, frankincense, and myrrh. And having received an answer in sleep that they should not return to Herod, they went back another way into their country.

Four great doctors of Church - Saint Augustine, Pope Gregory I, Saint Jerome, and Saint Ambrose with their attributes.

Homily by St. Ambrose, Bishop  

(Book ii. on Luke ii.) 

What are the gifts of the faithful and true? Gold to our King, frankincense to our God, and myrrh to Him Who died for us. The first is that whereof are made the royal honors of kings, the second is that mystic offering which is used in the worship of the Divine Power, and the third is that wherewith we pay respect to the dead, whose bodies it keepeth from corruption. My brethren, let us who hear and read these things, make offering out of what treasures we have— albeit we have it in earthen vessels. (2 Cor. iv. 7.) If we confess that all that we have, we have, not from ourselves, but from Christ, how much more should we confess that whatever we have is not our own, but Christ's?

The wise men out of their treasures presented unto Him gifts. Wilt thou know how pleasing to Him they were? The star appeared to them, but disappeared when it came near Herod. Then it appeareth to them again, leading them on the way that led to Christ. This star then was the way, and we know that Christ calleth Himself "the Way." (John xiv. 6.) And truly also in the mystery of His Incarnation He is called a Star; as it is

written: "There shall come forth a Star out of Jacob, and a Man shall rise out of Israel."1 Where Christ is, there is a Star; yea, He is Himself the bright and morning Star." (Apoc. xxii. 16.) And the light that leadeth to Jesus is His own.

Remark another point. The wise men came by one way and departed by another. They that had seen Christ, knew Christ, and they departed better than they came. There are two ways, — the way of sin, which leadeth to destruction; and Christ, the true Way, Who leadeth us home from that journeying here, whereof it is said: " My soul hath long dwelt as an exile." (Ps. cxix. 5.)