Mass
Intro:
In our
Liturgy of Christmas/Epiphany we celebrate three Epiphanies.
The
Crib at the back of the Church the Magi dramatize the first Epiphany.
The
second Epiphany is of the Baptism of Jesus in the Jordan.
The
third Epiphany is the of the Wedding in Cana.
Three
manifestations of the Lord.
The
word Epiphany is twined with the word Theophany – .
These
are , as it were, the particular Curtain Raisers on the stage of the Gospels,
the unveiling, the appearing, apparitions.
One of
the Fathers, expressing the experience of the mysteries of Epiphany and Theophany, (more familiar in Orthodox Church) speaks of “presence”. He uses
six times the word “presence”.
The
offering of our Mass is the deepening of our union with the presence of the
Lord.
.. . .
Note.
In the
Homily, we listened to hear of the Theophanies of the Bible.
We
learned of Matthew in a difference from the other two Synoptics.
In the
Trinity Theophany of the Baptism of Jesus, Mark and Luke use the more intimate
address in the second person.
It is
worth looking at the Gospel Harmony: Mt:3:16-17, Mk1:9-11, Lk 3:21-22.
(AMP).
Jesus baptized by John in the Jordan
|
Mat
3:13-17
|
Mar
1:9-11
|
Luk
3:21-23
|
|
16 And when Jesus was
baptized, He went up at once out of the water; and behold, the heavens were
opened, and he [John] saw the Spirit of God descending
like a dove and alighting on Him.
17 And behold, a voice from heaven said, This is My Son, My Beloved, in Whom I delight! [Ps. 2:7; Isa. 42:1.] |
9 In those days Jesus
came from Nazareth of Galilee and was baptized by John in the Jordan.
10 And when He came up out of the water, at once he [John] saw the heavens torn open and the [Holy] Spirit like a dove coming down [to enter] into Him. [John 1:32.] 11 And there came a voice out from within heaven, You are My Beloved Son; in You I am well pleased. [Ps. 2:7; Isa. 42:1.] |
21 Now when all the
people were baptized, and when Jesus also had been baptized, and [while He was still] praying, the [visible] heaven was opened
22 And the Holy Spirit descended upon Him in bodily form like a dove, and a voice came from heaven, saying, You are My Son, My Beloved! In You I am well pleased and find delight! [Ps. 2:7; Isa. 42:1.] |
Theophany
Theophany (from Greek theophania, meaning
"appearance of God") is one of the Great Feasts of theOrthodox Church, celebrated on January 6. It is the feast which reveals the
Most Holy Trinity to the world through the Baptism of the Lord (Mt.3:13-17; Mark 1:9-11; Luke 3:21-22).
Theophany. (Wikipedia)
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