Have You Seen God?

For a long time, the focus of the Feast of the Epiphany(manifestation of God), are the three kings (magi). One wonders what is the significance of the three seekers from the East. By tradition, the Feast of the Epiphany is one of the Christmas celebrations of Christians in the world. Many celebrate the birth of Jesus as we celebrate it. There are Christians who celebrate it on this feast. There are a few who celebrate it on the feast of the Baptism of the Lord, the Sunday feast after the Epiphany. Although they are different ways, the message is the same. The Christmas message is that God decided to be one like us in order to save us. The Word is made flesh so that He can personally minister on us. God is not anymore watching from a distance but had pitch His tent in humankind. In the feast of the Epiphany, the message is that God had manifested Himself. The shepherds and the three magi found Him and did Him homage. They had seen the promised savior. Just like Simeon, the three magi did not stop and had not lost hope in seeing the Messiah. The Baptism of the Lord is the commissioning of the Father of His Son who will minister to all the sinners in order to proclaim and bring the Good News of salvation.

Before the coming of the Lord Jesus, God can not be seen, heard, or touched. People interpret nature's acts. Prophets are tasked to bring the Word of God, but never God Himself. The most that people had experienced in the Old Testament was Moses' experience of the burning bush. It was an experience of mysterium tremendum. An experienced that can not be contained and described in words. The mystery experienced is too much that it could cause the death of the person. Our humanity can not withstand the divinity of God! But God knew the need of man to feel Him. Human beings operate via the senses. The easiest way for human being to believe is if he can see, hear, smell, and feel. And so, the Incarnation. God will save us in the way we best understand and accept. So, God manifested Himself!

Now, God can be seen, heard, and felt in Jesus Christ. He is still present to us now in Himself in the Eucharist. That is why, when we receive communion, the priest tells us, "The Body of Christ." Then we will answer, "Amen.". The exchange means that we are being given Christ Himself and we agree and believe He is the one we receive.

He is also present through our neighbor. He said, "Whatever you do to the least of my brother, you unto me." He also present in the priest. He also present in the community, "Whenever two or three are gathered in my name, there am I in the midst of them." Just in the Eucharist, the Lord had made His presence in so many different ways. Though there are pilgrimage places which are recognized as places of visitations by the Lord, there is no presence like no other presence in the Eucharist. There, the Lord is always available for us to hear, feel, see, and even receive.

But of course, our faith has a lot to do here. If we believe in His presence, then, we also would live His commands. If we live His commands, we have given our response for conversion and reconciliation with God. Then, the mission of Jesus had been fulfilled in us! And we can claim, "We have seen the Lord!".