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Homily on Epiphany "The Feast of the Epiphany is called by its Greek name
epipháneia, which is the Greek expression for our concept of appearance, or manifestation. This, therefore, is the
title given to our Lord and Savior’s manifestation on earth. Even though He had been born of Mary and had already completed
thirty years of His life, nevertheless, He was unknown to the world. His identity was revealed at the
time when He came to the Jordan to be baptized by John the Baptist, and the voice of the Father was heard thundering
from heaven: This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased (Mt 3:17). The Father had proclaimed Him
by His voice from the heavens, and the Holy Spirit, settling upon His head in the form of a dove, ordained
to make Him known by that revelation, lest people mistake anyone else for the Son of God. What is more sublime than
His humility, more noble than His belittlement? He is baptized by His servant and He is named Son by God. Along
the publicans, prostitutes, and sinners, He came for baptism, and He is holier than the one who baptizes. He
is purified by John in the flesh, but He purifies John in the spirit. The waters that had been wont to cleanse others
are now purified by the cleansing of our Lord. The Jordan river that dried up when Joshua led the Israelites into
the Land of Promise, now longed to gather together all its waters into one place, if it could, to bathe the body
of the Lord."
Prayer Let my soul rouse itself, Lord, from weariness, lean on your creation and hobble toward you who made it all. For in you we are remade and find true strength. – cfr. Conf. 5, 1 By Ateneo Pontificio "Augustinianum"
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