Gospel: Matthew 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.
Homily
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Sometimes as I begin to meditate of the Gospel passage for the weekend, I know immediately what I am going to speak about. At other times I have to struggle with the passage for long hours and then suddenly the idea will come like a burst of light in the darkness.
Today we celebrate the Feast of the Epiphany in which we remember and celebrate the manifestation of God- become- human to the world in the persons of the Magi. We know the story very well. The three wise men come from the East to pay homage to the Infant King of the Jews.
Somehow, after following the Star for their entire journey, they lose sight of it and have to inquire about the whereabouts of the infant King. They are told to go to Bethlehem and the star which they were following appeared again and stood over the house where the infant King could be found. We are told that they entered the house and offered their gifts to the infant King and then left by another route, not returning to Jerusalem.
I wonder what their thoughts would have been as they made the journey back to their territories. They had just had a totally counter-cultural experience. They had been led in a divine way to this King, yet what they found was total simplicity and austerity. There were none of the trappings of royalty. What they would have found was vulnerability and a family united in tremendous love. Even though a little child, in Jesus there could already be observed the seeds of what his life would propose to all and in which persons of good will would find the fulfillment for which they searched. In his manifestation to the Gentiles in the persons of the Magi, Jesus already signaled that “the Gentiles are coheirs, members of the same body, and co-partners in the promise in Christ Jesus through the gospel.” In other words contrary to what the prevailing theology of the Jewish people held, the Gentiles were loved by God and were God’s sons and daughters just as much as the Jews were. This was indeed a new revelation, it was as the prophet Isaiah said; “Jerusalem! Your light has come… Raise your eyes and look about; they all gather and come to you: your sons come from afar, and your daughters in the arms of their nurses.” This prophecy of Isaiah which deals with, among other things the unity and harmony of all peoples reminds us that Jesus is the light of the nations drawing all peoples towards himself whether or not they acknowledge Jesus as Lord. (From where else does the founding inspiration of the United Nations come?)
As you and I who acknowledge Jesus as Lord celebrate this feast, we must remember that Jesus still needs to be manifested to many persons and peoples if the prophecy of Isaiah is to be fulfilled. Jesus will not be born again; the task of his manifestation now lies in our hands. Our lives now have to propose to all humanity what the birth and life of Jesus proposed to the people of his time. We must now be the agents of the unity and harmony which Jesus proclaimed. In a world darkened by fratricidal wars, terrorism in the name of God and some of the most horrendous crimes imaginable, Jesus and the message shines out in the darkness, keeping hope alive that one day unity and harmony will be attained.
Prayer
All powerful and ever-loving God, The story of the Magi teaches us that all men and women are your children and heirs of the promise. Help us to learn that lesson well so that we accept the call to discipleship seeking to ensure that your light clear up the darkness of our world and fill the world with hope that one day we will all see each other as brothers and sisters equal heirs to the good things which you have given to us. We ask this through the intercession of Mary, our mother and your Son Jesus. Amen
