New Year 2011

We begin this new year with Mary the Mother of God, and the Epiphany. Mother of God comes from Theotokos, or "bearer of God." And Epiphany means the "manifestation" of Jesus.

Theotokos was first used at the Council of Ephesus in 431 AD to emphasize the deity of Jesus. Mary is a symbol of the entire church and of each soul. We are all to bear Jesus through our faith, hope, and love born of His Spirit.

The Epiphany is when the Magi brought the Christ Child gifts of gold for His kingship, frankincense for a His priesthood, and myrrh for His burial after dying on the cross.

After two years of recession and over a decade of sex scandals in the church this has special significance. We are to find a wealth in the kingdom that is greater than mere earthly prosperity or poverty, a divine priesthood greater then the success or failure of individual priests, and a cross that brings us to new life. This takes faith, but it can be done. That faith has already been given to us in the Spirit.

Do we bear Jesus in our life? Do we bring Him gifts as king, priest, and sacrifice for our life?

In Jesus,

John Michael Talbot
Founder, Spiritual Father, and General Minister,
The Brothers and Sisters of Charity at Little Portion Hermitage