Leading Others to Epiphany

Soon we will celebrate the wonderful Feast of the Epiphany, when Jesus is revealed to all the nations as the Son of God. This feast contains so many messages and images that are apropos for catechists. Here are a few.

• The Magi do not travel alone. Although they are from different locations, the Magi come together to seek the king. We catechists recognize the wisdom in this. We do not travel alone. We are part of a vast catechetical community that supports, nourishes, and challenges us.
• The Magi observe signs. The Magi are led to Jesus because they are observant of a sign—the star. We catechists are called to be observant of the many signs of God’s presence in this world.
• The Magi seek direction. The Magi are not too proud to stop and ask for directions from others so that they can find the newborn king. As catechists, we are called to be constantly seeking direction through ongoing enrichment, looking to others to help us find Jesus in our lives.
• The Magi offer gifts. The gifts that the Magi offer are of great value. Of no less value are the gifts that we offer to our Lord. We offer our time and talent to serve him, and we offer our teaching abilities to bring others to him. In essence, we offer our very selves.
• The Magi departed by another way. After encountering the newborn king, the lives of the Magi were forever changed. They followed a different way. We catechists are called to ongoing conversion, that we may continue to follow a different way—Jesus—who is the Way, the Truth, and the Life.
• No doubt the Magi shared their epiphany with others. Although Scripture does not tell us this, it is no great stretch to imagine that the Magi, who traveled so far at such great expense, shared the story of their epiphany with others. As catechists, we are called to share our own epiphanies with others—those times when God has been revealed to us—so that those we teach may be led to their own epiphanies of God, Emmanuel, who is truly with us.

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