Homily for January 6, 2013: Epiphany

Last updated on: January 5, 2013 at 12:03 pm by Deacon Greg Kandra

Homily for January 6, 2013: Epiphany 2013-01-05T12:03:20-05:00 Deacon Greg Kandra

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

This time of year, a lot of us are sending and receiving Christmas letters – those detailed accounts of how we’ve spent the last year. As interesting as they sometimes are, they are basically intended to tell the reader three things:

1. Our kids are smarter
2. Our dog is cuter
3. Our vacation was better.

Oh, and: Merry Christmas.

But this year, I got one of those letters, but it was quite different. It came from a former colleague of mine and it was notable because it didn’t mention what the author had done – but what someone else had done for him. As we hear in the readings today about the magi and their gifts, I thought I’d share with you this gift.

He began with a short preface to his friends:

“An anonymous person made a huge investment in our family this year,” he wrote. “He doesn’t know us and we don’t know him. Personal contact is not allowed for a year, however, we can exchange non-identifiable notes. So we thought we’d share the following note which we’ve sent to our doctor to pass along.”

This is part of what he wrote:

Dear Donor:

I am the recipient of one of the greatest gifts you have ever given–the gift of life. Without your donation, I was given about a year until my bone marrow myelodysplasia (MDS) progressed to deadly acute leukemia. Your stem cell gift arrived in my hospital room on July 4th and after the transplant (infusion) the celebration began.

The only information I’ve been given about you is that you’re a 33-year old male and that you live in the United States. The transplant took only a couple hours and the procedure went well. After nearly three months in or near the hospital, I was allowed to return home with my beloved wife and caregiver extraordinaire. She is a “Saint”. We’ve been married 51 years.

I am feeling well. My last biopsy indicated that I’m almost 100% donor (97.3%).

I’ve read all the rules by the National Donor Program on what I can and can’t say in this note. Under the limited category of what’s “OKAY TO SEND”:  I am male—married, two children , and two grandchildren.  I am 75 years old. Initially, I bragged about now being your age, 33, but I was told by a friend I shouldn’t be making such public pronouncements since this new age would mean I’m too young to be eligible for Medicare. I’m a retired news correspondent.

I want you to know that it is impossible to find words that adequately express my gratitude for what you’ve given to add to my time on this earth. I feel as though I’ve lived through a miracle–thanks to your generosity. How wonderful it is to have people like you who give of themselves to help others.

So until we actually meet in person, here’s wishing you and your family a Blessed and Joyous Holiday Season and a HEALTHY 2013. P.S. My wife says she “can’t wait to hug you.”

What a letter. A couple things strike me. First, it’s a beautiful testimony to the efficacy of adult stem cells. We hear a lot about embryonic stem cell research – which the church condemns, because it involves the destruction of human embryos. But this donation, from a 33-year-old man, shows how adult stem cells hold great promise and hope.

And of course, promise and hope are what this particular Sunday is about: the promise and hope of a God who revealed Himself through His son. That is the great gift of Epiphany. The word “epiphany” means “manifestation.” Here, I think, in this Christmas letter we have another epiphany, another manifestation of God. He reveals His grace at work.

And it never stops.

God continues to be made manifest if we are willing— like the magi— to look, to search, to be open to discovery. He is there in countless acts of generosity, wonder and self-giving. But are we seeing it? Are we seeing Him? Do we even know where to look?

One of the enduring lessons of Epiphany is this: you don’t necessarily discover God by keeping your head down and staring at the ground. We need to raise our eyes, and raise our hearts. Look above you and around you. Scan the skies for stars!

And Epiphany teaches us something else, too: do not be discouraged by the darkness. It is often when the night seems deepest and the journey seems longest that the light breaks through.

As we begin a new year, and continue our own journeys, there may well be nights when we feel lost. But remember what guided the magi. And remember, too, the unlikely places where God reveals Himself: in a stable…in the gift of a stranger…in a hospital…or even, as we are about to see again at this altar, in something as ordinary as a sliver of bread. Every Eucharist is an epiphany—a manifestation of His grace, His love, His presence in our world. How easily we take that wonderful gift for granted.

My friend closed his Christmas letter with a personal note: “Never forget,” he wrote, “that every day is a gift from the ultimate donor.”

I can’t imagine a better thought for starting a new year.

So this Epiphany, look for how God is making Himself manifest in your life. And: follow the light. Because as the magi learned, it will always take you where you meant to go – to the source of all light, the source of all hope.

Homilies

Previous Post

January 5, 2013

In rare move, American ordained permanent deacon in Muslim Abu Dhabi

Next Post

January 5, 2013 Homily for January 6, 2013: Epiphany

Browse Our Archives

Select a Category "Mad Men" 9/11 advent All Things New Amazing video amazing videos amazon america Anglicans Anti-Catholicism art ascension thursday ash wednesday Atheists baltimore Bible Bishops Blogging bonnie engstrom Books bridgeport Brooklyn Chaplains children christian art christmas Church Churches CNEWA Converts criticism Deacons Death Penalty easter eastern christian Eastern Christians Ecumenism education Education Eucharist Europe euthanasia Evangelization Exorcism Family Feasts Gay rights Good Friday Great links Great Moments in Journalism Hanging with the saints heather renshaw Hispanic Catholics Hispanics History homelies Homilies Humor Hymn of the Week Immigration indianapolis Inspiration Interfaith news ireland Jesus Jews Journalism Judaism lent Liturgy logos Marriage Mary Media Medical news Mental health Middle East Monks Movies Music Muslims My world and welcome to it New Evangelization new york News Nuns Parenting Parish life peoria Persecution politics Politics Pope pope francis pope john paul Prayer Preaching Priests Pro-life Quote of the day radio rebecca frech ripp Ripped from the headlines rippred from the headlines Sacraments saints Scripture sex abuse Sex abuse crisis SEX ABUSE CRISIS TAGGED WITH: SEX ABUSE CRISIS The people in the pews the visitation project theatre This & that Thomas Merton Trappists TV Uncategorized uncategorized VATICAN Vatican vocation Vocations Voices & Views Women Worth a thousand words Writing Year of Faith year of mercy young people

Select a Month December 2019 November 2019 October 2019 September 2019 August 2019 July 2019 June 2019 May 2019 April 2019 March 2019 February 2019 January 2019 December 2018 November 2018 October 2018 September 2018 August 2018 July 2018 June 2018 May 2018 April 2018 March 2018 February 2018 January 2018 December 2017 November 2017 October 2017 September 2017 August 2017 July 2017 June 2017 May 2017 April 2017 March 2017 February 2017 January 2017 December 2016 November 2016 October 2016 September 2016 August 2016 July 2016 June 2016 May 2016 April 2016 March 2016 February 2016 January 2016 December 2015 November 2015 October 2015 September 2015 August 2015 July 2015 June 2015 May 2015 April 2015 March 2015 February 2015 January 2015 December 2014 November 2014 October 2014 September 2014 August 2014 July 2014 June 2014 May 2014 April 2014 March 2014 February 2014 January 2014 December 2013 November 2013 October 2013 September 2013 August 2013 July 2013 June 2013 May 2013 April 2013 March 2013 February 2013 January 2013 December 2012 November 2012 October 2012 September 2012 August 2012 July 2012 June 2012 May 2012 April 2012 March 2012 February 2012 January 2012 December 2011 November 2011 October 2011 September 2011 August 2011 July 2011 June 2011 May 2011 April 2011 March 2011 February 2011 January 2011 December 2010

TAKE THE

Religious Wisdom Quiz

Who was the prophet that confronted King David about his sin with Bathsheba?

Select your answer to see how you score.

Samuel Elijah Isaiah Nathan

Books by This Author Books by Deacon Greg Kandra

See All Titles »