Do you see what I see? Homily for Sunday, January 4, 2026

A popular Christmas song provides us a way to think about evangelization and sharing our faith. Do you see what I see? Do you hear what I hear? Do you know what I know? Seeing, hearing, knowing. The tools of evangelization. Readings for Today.

Do you see what I see?

Do you see what I see? Do you hear what I hear? Do you know what I know? These questions that come from a familiar Christmas carol are the questions of evangelization. They are the very things that we should be asking others in our lives. Do you see? Do you hear? Do you know? This well-known Christmas song is a reminder that, like Easter, Christmas has a season too. In fact, it used to be much longer, starting with the Feast of the Presentation on February 2nd. The carol, however, is a song really about epiphany.

Throughout the Advent and Christmas season is a call to remember that there has been in history much to see. The Blessed Mother is asked to be the Mother of God. Zachariah has a vision and is made mute after his vision. His son will have a major role in announcing the king. Elizabeth recognizes the action of God in Mary. John the Baptist leaps in the womb of Elizabeth.

There is the journey of Mary and Joseph, first to Bethlehem and then to Egypt. The shepherds recount their divine experience when Jesus is born. All these events, and many others before, speak to us of the providence of God.

But today is different. So many of the events I mentioned were for the Jewish community, a community that knew of the promises of God, a community that expected the Messiah.

But today, the power and glory of God is revealed to the nations, to the Gentiles, to us. This is the moment when Gentiles become grafted onto the vine of Judaism. The salvation of Jesus is not just for a few. It is for the entire world.

But the manifestation of God did not stop with the Epiphany. It was not just a manifestation for the Magi. It was not just a manifestation for a moment. And it is far from the only manifestation of God.

This manifestation of the Epiphany reveals to us the identity of Jesus. The gifts brought by the Magi are deeply connected to the identity of Jesus. Gold for a king, frankincense for a prophet, myrrh for a priest.

And this identity of Jesus is exactly our identity, too. When we were baptized, we shared in the identity of Jesus. Jesus enables us to share in the kingly ministry. Jesus enables us to share in the sacraments and the life of grace. And Jesus compels us to speak out in his name.

To live our baptismal identity, we must have our eyes open. We must be on the lookout for the ways in which God is active in our lives and in the lives of others.

How is it you see God in the way you parent? How do you see God in your role as a spouse? How is it you see God in your job, with your friends, in the shows you watch and the music you listen to, the jokes you tell, the books you read?

Seeing, hearing, knowing happens when we put ourselves in the places where these things happen. We seek out silence in prayer with God. We ask the saints to pray for us. We read God’s word and we celebrate the sacraments, especially confession and the Eucharist.

The events of the Epiphany were important enough that they must be shared. We must share as well. We must share the good news that has been given to us. We must share what God in his mercy has done for us.

We must share by inviting people to join us for Mass. Share by inviting people to serve at the St. Margaret of Costello Center. Share by praying with others. Share by letting people know they are loved by God.

As Catholics, we have sometimes been reluctant to share our faith. But our vocation, which we received at our baptism, means we must proclaim the gospel.

For we live in a world where people are not always sure that God loves them. We live in a world where our brothers and sisters live in fear, wondering if those who show up at their door may come to detain them and deport them.

We might worry that because we sin, we may not be the best witnesses to the gospel. But when we celebrate regularly individual confession, we worship God, who can forgive our sins. We need to let people know that since God can forgive our sins, God can forgive the sins of others, too.

The Magi brought gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh. What gifts do we give Jesus? Can we give the gift of announcing the gospel? For in the way we live and the witness we provide, we give Jesus the best gift of all.

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