Epiphany 2005
Fr.Gus Carter
A journey, such as the wise men took, is often an image of a person's life course. In many ways we travel from place to place as we proceed through our time on earth. Destination indicates the goal of one's journey.

For Christians our journey has the goal of eternal love with God. Among Buddhists and Hindus we discover their goal to be Nirvana, a place of peace. All the major religions of the world insist that to reach our life's goal, we must be enlightened. Through various exercises and practices such as meditation and good works, a person becomes enlightened.

The enlightenment experiences of all the major religions of the world consists of an experience of incredible, inexpressible goodness at the heart of the universe. These experiences give a fundamental sense of the meaning of life. The means and goal of this life of enlightenment for Christians is loving one's neighbor as a way of showing love for our Creator. To reach enlightenment among Eastern religions requires compassion. When a person becomes enlightened he or she becomes like the compassionate Buddha. One's life is spent relieving the sufferings of others.

We live in a world where many assert that human life is meaningless, a kind of cruel joke that is ultimately empty. Many individuals live as though they had no obligation to care about others. We find those who think of life as the survival of the fittest. The tragedies of life give some people permission to deliberately harm others. Their hatred of life spurs them on to project their self-hatred onto others.

Our Christian faith asserts that if we want to live happy lives, we must concentrate on the goodness of life. Accept God's love for us and spread that love among our fellow citizens. If human life is ultimately intended to be joyful, let us learn a sense of appreciation that gives and spreads joy.

We have all sensed the beauty, peace and joy that nature offers. Most of us have seen beautiful panoramas that are glorious to behold. We have found simple, quiet places that breathe of peace. Generally, being attuned to nature softens our spirits in some way. The Romantic poets of the English language claimed that being in touch with nature ennobles the soul. I think of people I have known who loved to garden or of farmers who in spite of hard work are inspired by the growth of their crops.

The Gospel tells us that we have been created to communicate good to each other. God has placed into our nature the desire to do our work well. We are made to take joy in jobs well done. By taking responsible actions we are participating in the Lord's master plan for creation.

The Charismatic movement has reminded us that there can be great joy in praising God. Members from various choirs have told me of the joy they have in singing the Lord's praises. The music and holy thoughts of the songs raise their spirits in ways that make them feel touched by God's presence and goodness. That reminds me of St. Ambrose's saying, "Who sings, prays twice." The prayer of the Church includes reciting the psalms. There are Christians who love the poetic expressions of the many ways the Lord is present to his people. Others have discovered ways of receiving comfort in the disappointments and sufferings of life. The psalms teach us that the world is a university for the soul. Our ultimate destiny is to know, love and praise our Creator. No wonder that in this life we find participation in the goal of life a joyful experience.

The most profound experiences of Christian mystics consists of sensing being joined to God through love. The saints do not feel that they become God, but that they are in most intimate union with the Lord. St. John of the Cross compares the love experience of God to the soul being inflamed with the fire of God's love. St. John in one of his epistles wrote that where there is love, there is God. In any genuine human love we know that the Holy Spirit, God's love, is present, supporting and encouraging~ that love. Being a loving person in some ways opens one to suffering. Yet the lives of the saints show us the beauty and deep satisfaction of loving our neighbor for love of God. I have spoken with widows and widowers who had lost their spouses. They suffer deeply their separation, and yet they have profound gratitude for the love they shared.


The season of Epiphany calls to our minds that we are on a life journey. Have we opened ourselves to the possibilities Jesus offers us to have a joyful, meaningful life? We may often realize that sin has an undeserved reputation that it enlivens our lives. The greatest, most lasting actions on our life's journey are those that draw us closer to our Almighty Creator. The Lord Himself said he came to give us fullness of life and joy.