Epiphany - Year C

In this week's reading, we hear that when the Magi saw the star, they came into the house. Then what did they do when they saw the Christ child in the arms of his mother? They fell down and worshiped him. How often in our lives do we go about our daily business seeing Christ in other people, in his Word, in the Eucharist, but our hearts do not respond in the same manner?

Especially this week as we celebrate the Epiphany, let's pray that God makes our hearts sensitive to his presence. For many of us, it's natural to go to adoration. And the moment we see Christ in the Blessed Sacrament, we fall to our knees. But in daily life, do we bow when we see a manifestation of his presence in the good works of others, or even in our local parish? Blessed John Paul II said that we must be careful of falling into "practical atheism," professing to believe in God but living our lives as though he doesn't exist.

Throughout the course of your day, at home, at work, and with your friends, when you hear about the good things of Jesus and his Church, don't pass by them without taking a moment to bow in your heart and worship. Faith is the natural response to God revealing himself in the world, no matter how small that revelation might be.

Let faith rise up in your heart, and bow down to him even in the course of the mundane. In the village of Nazareth, people went about their mundane lives, not recognizing the extraordinary event that the Magi had traveled countless miles to witness: the King of Kings was in their midst.

Do you recognize God in the mundane?

This week look for appearances of Christ and his mother, manifestations of the kingdom of God. Each time you encounter Jesus in the mundane moments of life, whether in a church or an act of human kindness, consciously bow your heart in worship. Whisper in your heart, "I worship you, Lord. I see you in this moment."