Solemnity of the Epiphany of the Lord 2023: What does it speak to us and manifest to the world?
By Bishop Celes Gianan, DD, PhD
Briefly but significantly, the Solemnity of the Epiphany of the Lord 2023 speaks so powerfully to us and manifests to the world THE TRUTH, namely:
That Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior, since birth until now 2023 is the SAME yesterday, today and tomorrow. Both Malachi 3:6 and Hebrews 13:8 declare that God is the same always and never ever changes. No matter how this world keeps changing and how it keeps changing us, we can trust God is constant and consistent. He is the same yesterday, today, and forever! God can NEVER be not God. He will always be God.
That Christianity brought by Jesus Christ to the world since its manifestation until now year 2023 is already a SEASONED Christianity and that we, Christians, ought to claim on our part that we must humbly STRIVE to be SEASONED in our faith and never to be SEASONAL in the way we witness and practice it.
That the One, Holy, Catholic and Apostolic Church founded by Jesus Christ since its manifestation until now 2023 is an OLD, aged Mystical Body of Christ. Like an old, aged tree in the forest being respected, treasured, preserved and conserved, this Mystical Body of Christ, His Church, must be RESPECTED, TREASURED, PRESERVED and CONSERVED and must not be colored by careless MODERN INNOVATIONS and must not be governed by ungodly PERSONAL MOTIVATIONS.
We, the Old Roman Catholics of the North American Old Roman Catholic Church Utrecht Succession Archdiocese of California, are humble and happy to claim of our IDENTITY as OLD ROMAN CATHOLICS, an IDENTITY that shows we are faithful and loyal to the OLD aged Mystical Body of Christ whose character remains the SAME yesterday, today and tomorrow and whose GREAT COMMISSION we all humbly STRIVE to hold on to and fulfill now and in the days to come in PERPETUATION of the faith-witnessing of the Early Church.
A blessed celebration of the Solemnity of the Epiphany of the Lord 2023! God loves us all.
Bishop Celes Gianan, DD, PhD