Introduction: May you continue to be enlightened by the Light of Christ and shine the light upon others.
The phosphorescent rocks, in the regular light,
the stones looked normal, nothing spectacular. But when we look at the geological
specimens in the dark, they glowed bright colors. After a period of time, the illumination
emanating from the rocks dimmed. If they were again exposed to the light in the
museum and then taken back into the dark, they again radiated their colorful light.
The word “epiphany” comes from the Greek word, Epiphania, which
is a compound of two Greek words επι (epi - “upon”) and φανια
(phania - “shining”), thus it means “a shining upon” and it is sometimes
translated as “manifestation” or “revelation.” The more exact translation is “shining
upon.” It fits in well with the theme of light shining upon the world. There are
four separate epiphanias (one in each of the four Gospels): 1) the
birth of Jesus Christ and His manifestation to, or “shining upon,” the Jewish shepherds
(cf. Luke 2); 2) Jesus’ manifestation to, or “shining upon,” the Magi, the foreign
wise ones (today’s Gospel from Matthew); 3) Jesus’ manifestation, or “shining upon,”
at His baptism by John the Baptist (Mark 1:7-11); 4) Jesus’ manifestation or “shining
upon,” at the wedding feast of Cana where Jesus performed His first sign (miracle)
(John 2: 1-12).
First Reading: Isaiah 60:1-6
Above you, the glory of the Lord appears
Commentary: This passage
from the Book of Isaiah was written at a thrilling moment of Israel’s development.
They had returned from Exile in Babylon and were beginning to realise the universal
task of Israel. The salvation promised to Israel was not just for the Jews but was
for the whole world! Hence these cries of joy at all these curious camels and exotic
nations thronging to Jerusalem. There is a similar opening out for us, too: Christ
brings salvation not just to us, to those who come to our church, but to the whole
world – to all those grumpy, depressed, selfish, worried, suffering, disadvantaged
people we meet in the street, most directly to Christians of every kind, but also
to those who have not yet found Jesus. The Epiphany is the time when Jesus ‘went
public’, symbolized by the coming of the Wise Men from the East, the first people
outside his own sphere to greet him. So we ought to go out into the street and shout
for joy to alert people to what is on offer. Probably better to be a bit less crazy
about it, and simply show the happiness it has brought to us by sharing our happiness
in any generous way we can!
Responsorial Psalm
72:1-2,7-8,10-13
All nations shall fall prostrate before you, O Lord.
The Responsorial refrain proclaims: “LORD, every nation on earth will adore
you.” It, too, speaks of foreigners coming to give homage and gifts to GOD’s Chosen
One. It speaks of kings coming (thus, one of the places from which we get the notion
of “kings of the Orient” although Matthew does not call them kings, but Magi).
Second Reading: Ephesians
3:2-3,5-6
It has now been revealed that
pagans share the same inheritance
Commentary: The letter
talks about the ‘mystery’. It really means God’s great ‘secret’ to be revealed at
the end of time. The climax of the long history of the world did indeed come at
the Crucifixion and Resurrection because all our hope is in Christ’s Resurrection.
That was the moment when history reached its highest point. This is the only Christian
way of viewing the world, its slow evolution, and then its history of human development,
all directed to this point. We are much more aware these days that the immense universe,
with stars millions of light-years away, but still searching for the secret of the
Big Bang, is one great system of which we are a tiny part. When we think of angels
hovering over Bethlehem we really mean that all the power of God was focused on
that one event. The Christian believes that one tiny baby, in his ancient equivalent
of a nappy, presented to those Wise Men from the East, brought the secret of the
universe to fulfilment. They represent all the races of the world, and far beyond,
coming to greet the Saviour who was presented to the world on that day.
Gospel: Matthew 2:1-12
The visit of the Magi
Commentary: The contrast is overwhelming: Herod, the
King of the Jews, the nation prepared since all ages to welcome the coming of God
to set all things right, fails to recognise the coming of the Lord. He is so blind
as even to make every attempt to liquidate this herald of the completion of history
and of Jewish hopes. By contrast, the trio of wise men from the East, the traditional
home of natural wisdom, show their conviction of the turning point of history by
journeying over desert and mountain to welcome and pay homage to the Lord. The evangelist
is clear that this is the fulfilment of Isaiah’s prophecy of the coming of peoples
from the East to pay homage to the Lord. Especially in Eastern Christianity is the
festival of the Epiphany rather than the birthday of Jesus seen as the manifestation
of Christ to the world. This is the meaning of the Greek word ‘Epiphany’: it was
first used for the manifest coming of the Roman emperor on a state visit, for he
was regarded as a deity to whom worship and adoration were due.
Reflection: If Jesus truly is who he claims to be,
the eternal Son of God and Saviour of the world, then why is he not recognized by
everyone who hears his word and sees his works? John the Evangelist states that
when Jesus came into the world the world knew him not and his own people received
him not (John 1:10-11). Jesus was born in obscurity. Only the lowly shepherds recognized
him at his birth. Some wise men also found their way to Bethlehem to pay homage
to the newborn King of Israel. These men were not Israelites, but foreigners. They
likely had read and discussed the Messianic prophecies and were anxious to see when
this Messianic King would appear. God led them by means of an extraordinary star
across the desert to the little town of Bethlehem where Jesus was born.
John Chrysostom
(347-407), in his homily on this passage from Matthew 2, explains the significance
of the star of Bethlehem:
"Note how fitting
was the order of events: the wise men saw the star, were received by the Jews and
their king; they heard prophecy to explain what had appeared; the angel instructed
them; and then they journeyed from Jerusalem to Bethlehem by the guidance of the
star. From all this we learn that this was not an ordinary star, for no other star
has this capacity to guide, not merely to move but to beckon, to "go before
them," drawing and guiding them along their way. The star remained after bringing
them to the place, in order that the child might also be seen. For there is nothing
conspicuous about the place. The inn was ordinary. The mother was not celebrated
or notable. The star was needed to manifest and illumine the lowly place, until
they had reached their destination at the manger." [The Gospel of Matthew,
Homily 7:3]
In their thirst
for knowledge of God, the wise men from the East willingly left everything, their
home and country, in pursuit of that quest. In their diligent search they were led
to the source of true knowledge - to Jesus Christ, the Light and Wisdom of God.
When they found the newborn King they humbly worshiped him and gave him gifts fitting
for a king.
The Lord of the
universe who revealed the star of Bethlehem to the Gentiles of the East so they
could come and worship Jesus, the Prince of Peace (Isaiah 9:6) and King of Kings
(Revelations 19:16), gives each one of us the same light of revelation to recognize
and accept Jesus as our Lord and Saviour. Faith is an entirely free gift that God
makes to us. It is through the help of the Holy Spirit, who moves the heart and
opens the eyes of the mind, that we can understand, accept, and believe the truth
which God has revealed to us through his Son, Jesus Christ. In faith, the human
will and intellect cooperate with grace. "Believing is an act of the intellect
assenting to the divine truth by command of the will moved by God through grace"
(Thomas Aquinas).
To know and to encounter
Jesus Christ is to know God personally. In the encounter of the wise men with Jesus,
we see the plan of God to give his only Son as King and Saviour, not just for the
Jewish people but for all the nations as well. The Lord Jesus came that both Jew
and Gentile might find true and lasting peace with God. Let us pray today that Jew
and Gentile alike will find the Lord and Saviour on their journey of life. Do you
bring the light of Jesus Christ to those you meet through the witness of your life
and testimony?
Lord Jesus Christ,
we thank you for bringing salvation to all the nations. May the gospel of salvation
be proclaimed to every nation today and to every person on the face of the earth.
Help me to be a good witness of the joy of the gospel to all I meet.
Daily Quote from the Early Church Fathers: The glory of Christ's divinity is revealed, by Chromatius
(died 406 AD)
"Let us now
observe how glorious was the dignity that attended the King after his birth, after
the magi in their journey remained obedient to the star. For immediately the magi
fell to their knees and adored the one born as Lord. There in his very cradle, they
venerated him with offerings of gifts, though Jesus was merely a whimpering infant.
They perceived one thing with the eyes of their bodies but another with the eyes
of the mind. The lowliness of the body he assumed was discerned, but the glory of
his divinity is now made manifest. A boy he is, but it is God who is adored. How
inexpressible is the mystery of his divine honour! The invisible and eternal nature
did not hesitate to take on the weaknesses of the flesh on our behalf. The Son of
God, who is God of the universe, is born a human being in the flesh. He permits
himself to be placed in a manger, and the heavens are within the manger. He is kept
in a cradle, a cradle that the world cannot hold. He is heard in the voice of a
crying infant. This is the same one for whose voice the whole world would tremble
in the hour of his passion. Thus, he is the One, the God of glory and the Lord of
majesty, whom as a tiny infant the magi recognize. It is he who while a child was
truly God and King eternal. To him Isaiah pointed, saying, 'For a boy has been born
to you; a son has been given to you, a son whose empire has been forged on his shoulders
(Isaiah 9:6).'" (excerpt from TRACTATE ON MATTHEW 5:1)
THE WISDOM OF ABANDONMENT
“Nations shall walk
by your light, and kings by your shining radiance.” —Isaiah 60:3
Wise men and women,
like the wise men of the first Christmas, prostrate themselves before Jesus, do
Him homage, and give themselves to Him (Mt 2:11). This total abandonment is not a one-time experience,
but a way of life — forever.
Wise men and women
are great-souled individuals who begrudge nothing to God. They’re not looking for
the quickest Mass to fulfill their Sunday obligation. Rather, they consider it a
privilege to worship the Lord as long as possible. Wise men and women don’t ask
if they have to go to Confession annually, but they rejoice in celebrating frequently
the Sacrament of Reconciliation. Wise men and women consider it a privilege to share
their faith in Jesus, especially in situations where they may be persecuted (see
Acts 5:41; 13:52). Wisdom is not doing the minimum but always
searching for new opportunities to surrender to the love and will of God. Wise men
and women transcend their natural inclinations to selfishness, laziness, and fear.
They live supernaturally — by grace through faith (Eph 2:8, RSV-CE).
The Lord wants to
make you a wise man or woman. Are you willing to become wise, to follow the star,
to give all to Jesus?
Prayer: Father, on this
Epiphany, give me the fear of the Lord, which is the beginning of wisdom (see Ps 111:10). “See, darkness covers the earth, and thick clouds
cover the peoples; but upon you the Lord shines, and over you appears His glory.”
—Is 60:2. Praise Jesus, “manifested in the flesh, vindicated
in the Spirit; seen by the angels; preached among the Gentiles, believed in throughout
the world, taken up into glory” (1 Tm 3:16).
The
personal action for today: How have I experienced the Light of Christ shining
upon me? What have I done when I have been energized by the Light of Christ? How
have I let the Light shine through me to others? What more can I do to help enlighten
others?