Stewardship of God's grace

     When he writes the Ephesians, Paul reminds them that he has been chosen a steward by God.  He has been entrusted with a wondrous treasure - a revelation of God, unknown in previous ages and generations, but now revealed by the Spirit to the holy apostles and prophets.  This revelation is mind boggling - that a promise made to a specific people at a specific time would now be opened to and experienced by any and all who desired what the promise foretold - salvation.  This is the thrust of today's (the Epiphany's) second reading.  The Gentiles are coheirs, along with the Children of the Promise, members of the same body, co partners in the promise fulfilled by Christ.  When Casper, Melchior and Balthazar found their way to the house and paid homage to the child Jesus, they brought their gifts, their hungers, their hopes and us with them.  They went home, not with a token of thanks or some souvenir of their trip, but with peace in their hearts and hope in their spirits.  They went home transformed by the Good News of this child and what he could or would mean.  And Paul wants us to remember that, for it is God's grace.