The Epiphany of Discernment and Mission

Voice over by Carol San San Lwin

1Jn 3:22—4:6, Psalm: 2, Mt 4:12-17, 23-25

Dear Sisters and Brothers in Christ,

The joy of Christmas finds its mission on Epiphany. The Child born for us is the Light revealed to us, so He may be proclaimed through us. Today’s readings guide us in this mission, teaching us to discern the true Spirit of Christ and to become bearers of His light to those dwelling in the “land of gloom.”

Saint John gives us a crucial criterion for our pilgrimage of faith: “Test the spirits to see whether they belong to God.” In a world of competing voices, not every inspiration is from the Holy Spirit. The defining test is doctrinal and incarnational: does a spirit acknowledge Jesus Christ as the Son of God who has come in the flesh? This was the test against the early heresies, and it remains vital today against modern errors that deny Christ’s divinity or reduce Him to a mere moral example. Pope Francis echoes this, warning that “the faith is not a negotiable proposal; it is a full-bodied confession of the living God.” We must be spiritually discerning, anchored in the truth of the Creed.

How do we cultivate this discernment? St. John tells us: it begins with loving “in deed and truth,” and keeping God’s commandments. A life of active charity and obedience opens us to the Holy Spirit, who is Truth. As St. Augustine taught, “Love, and do what you will.” For a heart grounded in God’s love, the will is conformed to Christ, making true discernment possible.

This Spirit of Truth then propels us into the world, just as Jesus began His public ministry in today’s Gospel. Fulfilling Isaiah’s prophecy, He goes to “Galilee of the Gentiles,” a region shrouded in darkness, and proclaims: “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.” His mission is one of word (“preaching the gospel”), deed (“curing every disease”), and universal reach (“great crowds from… the Decapolis, and beyond the Jordan”). This is the Epiphany pattern: the Light shines in the darkness, and the darkness cannot overcome it.

For our daily lives, this means:

1. Test the Spirits: Critically evaluate the messages from media, culture, and even internal voices against the unchanging truth of the Gospel and the teaching of the Church. Ask, “Does this lead me to a deeper confession of Jesus as Lord?”
2. Carry the Light: We are sent into our own “Galilees”—our workplaces, schools, and families—often places of spiritual shadows. Bring Christ’s light not just with words, but with deeds of mercy, compassion, and justice, “curing” the wounds you encounter.
3. Trust in the Victory: The crowds brought Jesus all who were sick, and He healed them. Do not be afraid to bring the world’s burdens, and your own, to the Lord in prayer. The One who is in us is greater than the one who is in the world.

On this Epiphany, may we, like the Magi, adore the Light of the World. And filled with His truth and love, may we go forth to make Him manifest to all. Amen.