Gospel
Mt 2:1-12
When Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea, in the days of King Herod, behold, magi from the east arrived in Jerusalem, saying, “Where is the newborn king of the Jews? We saw his star at its rising and have come to do him homage.” When King Herod heard this, he was greatly troubled, and all Jerusalem with him. Assembling all the chief priests and the scribes of the people, he inquired of them where the Christ was to be born. They said to him, “In Bethlehem of Judea, for thus it has been written through the prophet: And you, Bethlehem, land of Judah, are by no means least among the rulers of Judah; since from you shall come a ruler, who is to shepherd my people Israel.” Then Herod called the magi secretly and ascertained from them the time of the star’s appearance. He sent them to Bethlehem and said, “Go and search diligently for the child.
When you have found him, bring me word, that I too may go and do him homage.”
After their audience with the king they set out. And behold, the star that they had seen at its rising preceded them, until it came and stopped over the place where the child was. They were overjoyed at seeing the star, and on entering the house they saw the child with Mary his mother.
They prostrated themselves and did him homage. Then they opened their treasures and offered him gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh. And having been warned in a dream not to return to Herod, they departed for their country by another way.
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Homily
Some years ago, a priest from Haiti came to Trinidad to visit Servol. He had heard of the wonders which Servol was doing for dispossessed youth and he wanted to introduce the same programme in Haiti. In fact he was only one of a stream of Caribbean church leaders who were very interested in the Servol experience. Today there are many programmes throughout the Caribbean dedicated to helping the dispossessed youth of our Caribbean nations which have drawn their inspiration from the Servol experience.
Today we celebrate the feast of the Epiphany, the manifestation of Christ to the nations. In the gospel reading for this feast we are reminded that this little child is the “ruler, who is to shepherd God’s people Israel.” It is this ruler whom the Magi come to visit. It is this ruler whom Herod seeks to kill. The question which we must all ask is “Why”. Why did the Magi make this exacting journey to visit the “One” born King of the Jews? The Magi were from the East, they did not have the benefit of the Jewish scriptures yet they read the signs of the time and recognized in the baby whom they saw a ruler who would bring a message and a promise of peace, a message meant not only for the Jews but for all people, but a message and a promise for which he would be killed.
Herod on the other hand has not learnt from the scriptures of his people. He is only interested in power and the message and promise which Herod gives is diametrically opposed to the promise and message of the One born King of the Jews. Herod’s promise and message is very simple. Anyone challenging his power will be destroyed.
Here we have different types of leaders, the wise ones whose concern is finding those who can contribute to the building of peace and well-being for their people and then we have leaders whose only concern is power and the accumulation of power. When power is the issue, then those who stand in the way of the accumulation of power must be destroyed by fair means or foul. That is why Herod sought to destroy the Infant born in a manger and when his attempt to trick the wise men did not succeed, he destroyed all who could be the One the wise men had visited.
The Feast of the Epiphany challenges us therefore to examine the reasons we have for following the leaders we follow. Is it because we truly desire peace and well-being for our people especially the dispossessed or because we want a share in the power, either as individuals or as part of the group? Each of us is also challenged to discover the type of leader he or she is or has become. A look at the lives of the saints, our heroes in the faith tells us that they were only concerned about the wellbeing and harmony of those for whom they gave their time and their energies. They are the Magi of every age. You and I must be the Magi of the present age seeking only those rulers who are true shepherds seeking to build the peace and well-being of their people.
Prayer
All powerful and ever loving God, today you manifested to the pagans the one who was to bring salvation to the world and pagans had the wisdom to seek out the one sent by the true God. Help us to understand that we do not have the monopoly on wisdom, that You are the light enlightening the whole world, Jews and pagans alike. Help us not to be like Herod, so obsessed with power that we lose sight of the wisdom being offered us through and in others. We ask this through Jesus the Christ and Mary his Mother. Amen
