For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. (Col 3:3)
Our connection with Christ is intimate, one in which we share the death of Christ. Can it get more intimate than that? St. Paul in his letter to the Ephesians equates to the relationship of husband and wife. We begin to share this death experience with him through baptism and Eucharist. St. Paul often brings this theme up of dying and rising with Christ. Again in his letter to the Romans he reminds us:
We were indeed buried with him through baptism into death, so that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might live in newness of life. (Romans 6:4)
We also share in the resurrection, it is not just death, if it was only a death experience we would despair, therefore a promise is made, one of eternal life in and that we rose with Christ as well when the stone rolled back on that faithful Easter morning. And all have access to this promise,
Here there is not Greek and Jew, circumcision and uncircumcision, barbarian, Scythian, slave, free; but Christ is all and in all. (Col 3:11)
Salvation is open to everyone; one’s origin does not matter, nor station, but simply God’s free gift of grace. Upon receiving this gift we are empowered with a tri-fold gift that of becoming priests, prophets, and kings.
But you are "a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people of his own, so that you may announce the praises" of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light. (1 Peter 2:9)
He has made us into a kingdom, priests for his God and Father, to him be glory and power forever (and ever). Amen. (Rev. 1:6)
The Epiphany was not just for Jesus, it started there in terms of Jesus’ person and mission being made manifest or revealed, because the gifts presented, gold – king, frankincense – priest, myrrh – sacrifice/death are also shared with us, since we are intimately united with him, then we too share in his person, but also in his mission.
People sometime believe that this type of vocation one in which the Gospel is spread through evangelization is solely for priests and religious. It is true that as priests we have a certain responsibility and office that we must carry out; that is to preach in the liturgical assembly under the permission of the bishop, and to minister the sacraments. However, we cannot live in a church building forever, we must go forth and preach to the world, and that responsibility is given to everyone, not just the priest. When you go to work, to school, family gatherings, parties, etc. you are encouraged to share our faith, first through deed, then by Word.
The royal priesthood participates on the front lines so-to-speak, what you learn from your own prayer, what is given you by God in the sacraments, what you receive here at mass you are commissioned to take with you everywhere you go. Ministerial priests need the royal priesthood to take that Word everywhere, hence exercising your role as prophet, also as priest in your daily sacrifices, and to show the world the moral assurance we have in God’s grace, that we are a people filled with joy because we are royalty.
The gifts given by the Magi were given to Christ first, in and that he was to be recognized not just by the Israelites, but that the Gentiles would also recognize him. Those gifts are now given to us since we share with Christ in such an intimate manner. Christ is not somewhere out there or some untouchable person, no sir, rather he is right here, inside of us. We are given gifts, what will we do with them? The answer remains with us.
Fr. John
All Scripture taken from USCCB http://www.nccbuscc.org/
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