Dear Brothers and Sisters,

A Happy New Year to you all! This Sunday we celebrate the feast of the Epiphany. The word Epiphany literally means an appearance or manifestation. Traditionally this feast has been a commemoration of the moment when the magi came from the east to pay homage to the new king and to bring their gifts. The church has always seen in this event, of men from a foreign, non-Jewish land, a manifestation that Jesus the messiah came for all men and women, both Jews and gentiles. Over these past couple of weeks we have recounted the great Christmas story and we have been reflecting on the various participants in this drama. One of the things that has occurred to me is that all the holy men and women who play a part in the story have something in common; they all find their identity in something other than themselves – they find it in God and his promises. They all exhibited faith in something other than their own gifts and abilities.

In this New Year, my prayer for us all is that we find our true identity more and more in the One who made us and who loves us.

God bless,
Fr. Tony