The Epiphany of the Lord
"And having been warned in a dream not to return to Herod, they departed for their country by another way." (Mt. 2:1-12)
As we begin the year of our Lord 2025, let's reflect on Langston Hughes's stunning poem, What Happens to a Dream Deferred? This poem, often interpreted in the context of the African American experience, resonates deeply with our personal lives.
What Happens to a Dream Deferred?
What happens to a dream deferred?
Does it dry up like a raisin in the sun?
Or fester like a sore—And then run?
Does it stink like rotten meat?
Or crust and sugar over—like a syrupy sweet?
Maybe it just sags like a heavy load. Or does it explode?
As we contemplate this poem, we must acknowledge that it poses more questions than answers. As readers, we must seek answers to multiple questions from our experiences. Langston does not attempt to read your mind or be the expert in your life. We must reflect on the numerous dreams in our minds by ourselves, hoping that our inner visions will manifest themselves. This poem leads us to the mystery of our lives by contemplating what happened to our dreams.
On a personal level, some may ask if I deferred my dream because I failed to protect the dream from heated debate or picked holes in the dreams with doubt, creating a blister or sore, a spirit of unbelief. Did I forget to season the meat of my dream with educational tools to help propel the dream until its appointed time? Did someone sugarcoat my dream with meaningless words that made my dream incredible, causing me to trust humanity instead of God? Perhaps my dream became heavy because of working independently and refusing help. Or did my dream explode because I was big-headed?
On a national level, many of us enter 2025 wondering what will happen to our political world, as many of us dreamed that 45 would never be president again. Let me also add that many of us never dreamed that the United States of America would elect people in office who devalue women, have no regard for children, treat people like animals, or study for war. Our judicial system is ignoring the preaching of John the Baptist. Do you remember these words during Advent:
"Whoever has two cloaks should share with the person who has none. And whoever has food should do likewise. ... Stop collecting more than what is rescribed. ... Do not practice extortion, do not falsely accuse anyone, and be satisfied with your wages" (Lk. 3:11-14).
Yes, many of our dreams in 2024 sagged, damaging our hope in 2025.
However, on this Epiphany of the Lord this Sunday, I believe God still sends dreams to his people who will wait for the Lord. God spoke to the prophet Joel, saying, "I will pour out my spirit upon all flesh. Your sons and daughters will prophesy, your old men will dream dreams, your young men will see visions" (Joel 3:1). Through the Magi's insistence to follow the star, the three wise men visited the Baby Savior. They worshipped and presented gifts. They profoundly experienced the presence of the Lord. But there is more! The Lord warned the Magi in a dream to go in a new direction. God gave them a dream at the appropriate time to avoid King Herod's wrath. In the Magi's epiphany, the Lord manifested himself to lead and protect the Magi.
In 2025, trust in the Giver of the Dreams to slide you to the right, slide you to the left, and crisscross the tactics of the Evil One. God used dreams to slide Joseph into position to save his family and nation. Joseph, the Interpreter of Dreams, said, "Even though you meant harm to me, God meant it for good, to achieve this present end, the survival of many people" (Gen. 50:20). And what about Joseph in the New Testament? God gave Joseph four dreams (Mt. 1:20; 2:13, 19, 20) to sidestep the Deceiver to protect his family. In the Book of Acts, Peter learned about inclusivity through a dream; he should never call what God made unclean (Acts 10:9-15).
When you dream again, or God gives you a vision, it will not explode; reflect on this proverb, "Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways, submit to him, and he will make your paths straight. Do not be wise in your own eyes; fear the Lord and shun evil. This will bring health to your body and nourishment to your bones." (Pro. 3:5-8, NIV).
Open my eyes, Lord, to see your vision for me in 2025!
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Author: Evang./Prof. Michael Howard, MACS
Facilitator, University of Dayton, VLCFF,
University of Notre Dame, McGrath Institute, STEP Online,
Lead Faculty and Course Designer "The Presence of Black Catholics in the Church Today and Tomorrow" Loyola Marymount University,
Founder of Eat the Scroll Ministry
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