Merry Christmas! We cannot say it often enough during the Christmas season. Today we celebrate the Epiphany, which traditionally marks the twelfth day of Christmas. The second reading from the Letter to the Ephesians complements the Gospel according to Matthew. Saint Paul proclaims, “it has now been revealed to his holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit: that the Gentiles are coheirs, members of the same body, and copartners in the promise in Christ Jesus through the gospel.” He thus identifies the Gentiles not only as coheirs but also as full copartners in the promise of the Gospel.

As we enter the final week of the Christmas season, let us keep our flame brightly burning by serving as missionaries for Our Lord. Pope Leo XIV, in a recent Address to the Roman Curia for the Exchange of Christmas Greetings, reminds us:

“By her very nature, the Church is outward-looking, turned toward the world, missionary. She has received from Christ the gift of the Spirit in order to bring to all people the good news of God’s love. As a living sign of this divine love for humanity, the Church exists to invite and gather all people to the festive banquet that the Lord prepares for us. In this gathering, every person can discover their identity as a beloved child, a brother or sister to their neighbor, and a new creation in Christ.”

The holy days that filled the Advent season allowed us the opportunity to purge ourselves of selfishness and unite ourselves more fully with the Christ Child through His Blessed Mother, as St. Matthew states in the Gospel: “They were overjoyed at seeing the star, and on entering the house they saw the child with Mary his mother. They prostrated themselves and did him homage. Then they opened their treasures and offered him gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh.” With the humility of the shepherds and the wisdom of the Magi, we are called to go forth and serve.