>>Last Sunday, we were celebrating Jesus in the temple at twelve years old. Well, this Sunday we go backwards in time and celebrate the wise men at their visitation of Jesus. Today, is called the Epiphany because it really is God’s showing forth, God’s showing forth of his son, to whom the three magi the three wise men God is showing forth to those non-Jewish wise men that he’s come into the world, that God has entered into the world in time and space. God has entered into the world. The great epiphany. God didn’t want Jesus just to be a gift to the Jewish people, but really a gift for the entirety of the globe. God’s shining forth his son, Jesus. Now, I have to share that over the past few years, I feel like I’ve been part of a revelation as well around the Archdiocese, you see, I had the distinct honor of going to different communities and sharing with them the Cardinal’s decisions about unifications and sometimes unifications and closures. And let me tell you, people aren’t happy to see me. Maybe theway Jesus was happy to see the wise men, that’s for sure. But nonetheless, we’ve had to across the archdiocese, we’ve had to unite many parishes and perhaps your parish is one that’s been united with another, with one pastor over the two locations. Or maybe even your parish has come to a close. It’s very sad. It’s very, very tragic. However, I think the next moment of this movement, this movement of renewal is one that all of us can take hold of. Remember last week when I was talking about disciples, ouridentity as followers of Jesus, disciples of Jesus and children of God? You know, that really does bring us into this next journey of renewal. Where we have to reclaim our identity. Reclaim our desire to be a disciple of Jesus. In fact, Pope Francis pushes us even further. And Pope Francis says, “Discipleship, yes, we’re all disciples through our baptism. I want you to become missionary disciples.” That’s the next phase of renewal becoming not just disciples of Jesus, but missionary disciples. Well, what does a missionary disciple? Well, you heard me talk about disciples being people who pray, who serve and who share. A missionary disciple is somebody who prays confidently and lovingly with others in small groups. On the streets, in the grocery store, in people’s homes around your parish. You pray with others with a great confidence and love you serve even when it’s uncomfortable. Not just when it’s comfortable. When it’s uncomfortable, you engage in service of the least among us and you share and not just your time, talent and treasure. You share your faith. I mean, literally to share with others how Jesus touched your heart and your life. That’s a missionary disciple. Praying with others, serving when it’s uncomfortable and sharing your faith powerfully with others. Not just talking about the priest or the pastor or the church talking about how God has touched your life powerfully. And I’m happy to say that even though the epiphany or the revelation that’s been happening around the Archdiocese for the past four years has been challenging. This new moment of renewal is powerful, is dynamic, and we see great moments of light and great moments of fruit around the Archdiocese. Where moms go through a process of something like alpha and come out of it wanting to have exposition of the Blessed Sacrament. Or, grandma sitting down with their kids and sharing the story of why grandma baptized all of their children. There’s fruit that’s happening in people sharing their faith lovingly and moving to the next level, not just disciples, but missionary disciples. Jesus was revealed to the world as the gift of God to everyone. May we revel in that as Jesus disciples and not just disciples, missionary disciples.