The Epiphany of the Lord
Week 1 of year B - 8th January 2012

God's Revelation

Some years ago a friend of mine sent me this beautiful reflection by a grandmother which I want to share with you as we conclude the Christmas season.

"In this season of love, I found myself asking questions about God's love. How does God love us, I wondered, and what does that love feel like? Through my baby grandchild, God has taught me a bit about divine love. The lessons have come to me as a grandmother gazing at this baby and also as the object of his gaze.

"If you've had a baby in your family, you may recall those early months when you and others waited eagerly for you baby's first real smile. You longed for this little creature to notice you, to say with that purposeful, toothless grin, "Hi."

"You were patient - although certainly eager - as you waited, but you trusted that in time, the child's eyes and face would say, "I know you," and then, "I love you." The smile might have been fleeting and unpredictable, for life's noises can distract the baby. But you happily waited for the next moment of recognition.

"I think that's how God waits for us. Our Parent waits patiently and uncritically for our "I know you" smile. Like a baby's grin, our smiles for God may be just as brief, just as distracted, just as random. But God knows children take time to grow. You love them even as you wait for them to give you more.

"Our baby has now mastered smiling. We rarely have to be patient to get not only smiles, but also non-stop grins that turn into giggles. His joy at seeing those he loves is so powerful that his body wiggles with that energy.

"And what do we do to earn his joy? We do nothing. We simply exist in his world and our presence makes him happy. When my baby grandchild brims over with smiles for me, I catch a glimpse of God's spontaneous smile. I am reminded that God loves me simply because I am.

"Like the wise kings, we leave our homes to search for answers; we come to church to search for God and for our Creator's love. But the very homes we leave may hold our deepest lessons about that love, and our greatest teachers may be our babies. For when we look into those sweet, soft faces and well up with emotion, we will surely feel in our hearts how God loves us. And when those tiny eyes look at us and light up with joy, we can see the face of God and hear our divine Parent say, "You are mine, and you are wonderful."

(by Grandma Judith Galas)

As we begin a New Year, I pray "May the Lord bless you and keep you; May the Lord let his face shine on you and be gracious to you; May the Lord uncover his face to you and bring you peace".