Transformed by the Light of the World

My oncologist’s name lit up as my cell phone rang on the Feast of the Epiphany 14 years ago. “The biopsy showed cancer,” she said. I took a deep breath, closed my eyes, and whispered a prayer, bracing myself before walking outside to tell my husband. Since that day, the Feast of the Epiphany has been a memorial stone date on my calendar at the start of each new year. From that day, the Lord has continued to open my eyes and transform me as He sends me on paths unexpected.

In the Gospel today, we hear of three earthly Kings led by a star to The King of Kings. Although they wore the trappings of worldly majesty, they bowed low - humbled before this newborn King. “They prostrated themselves and did him homage” (Mt. 2:11) And they rose up transformed. 

What began for them as an outward pilgrimage - following a star - became an inward encounter with the Lord, the true Light of the World. That encounter changed them, their plans, their very mission.  “And having been warned in a dream not to return to Herod, they departed for their country by another way” (Mt. 2:12). Their expected path ahead was promptly altered by encountering the Lord. And, I dare to believe, their lives were never the same. 

May it be so for all of us today as well. 

All of us are on a pilgrimage to our eternal home with the King of Kings. We all have epiphany moments in our lives - phone calls, encounters, diagnoses, decisions - when we encounter our Lord and He shines His light on the path ahead in a new way. Like the three Kings, when we encounter the Lord and He reveals Himself to us, we are never the same. 

And oh how He desires to reveal Himself to us on our pilgrimage through life, especially in those dark nights that come for us all. It is often in the darkness that the light of Jesus - a light of hope - shines brightest. Although I wouldn’t have asked for that Epiphany phone call from my oncologist 14 years ago, it drew me closer to the King of Kings and altered my life in ways that I’m so grateful for.

May we all encounter the Lord today on our journey, wherever we are, and go back by the road He has for us “proclaiming the praises of the Lord” (Isaiah 60:6) as we go. May His light shine brightly where you need it most today. Happy Epiphany Sunday!

By Shauna Occhipinti