We Will Be Lifted Up

Dear Friend, 

“Truth is an ongoing effort,” writes Ann Garrido in her terrific little book entitled “Let’s Talk About Truth” (Ave Maria Press, 2025). It’s the first of three sentences that lay the groundwork for the following four short, illuminating chapters. The second is this: “Reality is like a bazillion volts of electricity and most of us are only dealing with 60-watt bulbs.” And the third wraps it all up, and it’s from the philosopher Michael Lynch: “If I know anything, it’s that I don’t know everything, and neither does anyone else.” 

As we celebrate the Epiphany of the Lord this weekend, we hear the story of truth-seekers, wise and learned scholars, three “magi,” presumably from Persia, who dare to seek a truth that lies beyond their current intellectual horizon. They’ve set out on a long journey of faith and have arrived in Jerusalem. The know-it-all Herod wants to bring their quest to an evil end. They elude him. This only provokes him to acts of murderous violence. As Mary sings, the rich and powerful seal themselves off and are brought low.  

Disciples in the Roman Catholic tradition believe that God wants to be known. God created us to grasp that knowledge, and in the end, to be grasped by it, in the communion of love. Coming to us in Jesus Christ our Creator offers us a daily cross of humility and love, which becomes the form and pattern of our ongoing effort to be truly human, as he was human. We will be lifted up.

The embrace of ambiguity and repeated acts of trust are called for. Though things are not fully spelled out, we are, remarkably, invited in. It’s an ongoing effort, as the Magi teach us, with a few bazillion volt surprises along the way.  

Gratefully,

Father Dan ofm, Pastor