They Fell Down and Worshiped Jesus
Introduction: Epiphany: May you continue to be
enlightened by the Light of Christ and shine the Light upon others.
Have you ever seen a phosphorescent
rock? In the regular light, the stone looks normal, nothing spectacular. Yet
when one takes a phosphorescent rock from the bright light into a dark
enclosure, it glows bright colors. After a period of time, the illumination
emanating from the rock dims. If the rock is again exposed to the brighter
light and then taken back into the dark, it again radiates its colorful light.
Just like the phosphorescent rocks in
normal light, we may look quite normal and lack any sort of luster. Yet,
when we are enlightened by Christ, the Light of the World, we are energized so
that we can share Christ the Light with others, especially those experiencing
darkness in their lives.
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 of a “shining upon.” For it fits in well with the theme
of the 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 being baptized 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)
The First Reading today speaks about the
Light of the LORD, Who has come, and the glory of the LORD Who shines upon (epiphano)
the earth. Out of the darkness, a new light shines upon all nations, not just on
the people of Israel. Wise people (magi) and rulers from far away
come forth, bringing gifts. St. Paul in his letter to the Ephesians reminds us that
“in Christ Jesus, the Gentiles are now co-heirs with the Jews.” Thus, the Good News
of salvation is not reserved only to the people whom GOD chose in the past, but
to the non-Jews also. That is, GOD’s Light of Grace is “shining upon” all peoples.
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 – more about that in a bit).
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 recognize 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 people 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 Savior 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 Savior. 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 Savior, 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 Jews and Gentiles alike will find the Lord and Savior 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 honor! 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)
[Note: Chromatius was an early
Christian scholar and bishop of Aquileia, Italy. He was a close friend of John
Chrysostom and Jerome. He died in 406 AD. Jerome described him as a "most
learned and most holy man."]
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?
Saint John Neumann: Perhaps because the United States got
a later start in the history of the world, it has relatively few canonized
saints, but their number is increasing. John Neumann was born in what is now
the Czech Republic. After studying in Prague, he came to New York at 25 and was
ordained a priest. He did missionary work in New York until he was 29 when he
joined the Redemptorists and became its first member to profess vows in the
United States. He continued missionary work in Maryland, Virginia, and Ohio,
where he became popular with the Germans.
At 41, as bishop of Philadelphia, he
organized the parochial school system into a diocesan one, increasing the
number of pupils almost twentyfold within a short time. Gifted with outstanding
organizing ability, he drew into the city many sisters and Christian Brothers teaching communities. During his brief assignment as vice provincial for
the Redemptorists, he placed them at the forefront of the parochial movement.
Well-known for his holiness and learning, spiritual writing, and preaching, on
October 13, 1963, John Neumann became the first American bishop to be
beatified. He is canonized in 1977 and buried in St. Peter the Apostle Church in
Philadelphia.
Neumann took seriously our Lord’s
words, “Go and teach all nations.” He received his instructions and the power to carry them out from Christ. For Christ does not give a mission without
supplying the means to accomplish it. The Father’s gift in Christ to John
Neumann was his exceptional organizing ability, which he used to spread the
Good News. Today the Church is in dire need of men and women to continue in our
times the teaching of the Good News. The obstacles and inconveniences are real
and costly. Yet when Christians approach Christ, he supplies the necessary
talents to answer today’s needs. The Spirit of Christ continues his work
through the instrumentality of generous Christians.
