They Fell down and Worshiped Jesus
The Epiphany: May you continue to be enlightened by the
Light of Christ and shine the light upon others.
The phosphorescent stones looked normal, nothing
spectacular. Yet when looked 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.
Just like the rocks, we may look quite normal and lacking
any luster. Yet, when we are enlightened by Christ, the Light of the World, we
are energized so that we can share the Light – Christ – with others.
The word “epiphany” comes from the Greek word, Epiphania,
which is 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.” I like the more exact translation of a
“shining upon.” It fits in well with the theme of light shining upon the world.
As I have mentioned in earlier reflections, 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: ‘The glory of the Lord has
risen upon you.’
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. 10-11. 12-13.: All the
nations on earth 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 3:2-3a, 5-6: ‘It has now been
revealed that the Gentiles are fellow heirs of the promise.’
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” ‘We have come from the east to
worship the king.’
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 of 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 are able to 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 Jew and Gentile 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)
let him have it
“All kings shall pay Him homage; all nations shall serve
Him.” —Psalm 72:11
Today’s great feast of the Epiphany celebrates the
manifestation of Jesus to the nations. The wise men traveled a great distance,
at much inconvenience, bringing valuable gifts to honor Jesus. The presence of
the Baby Jesus manifested the love in their hearts.
King Herod likewise had his love of power made manifest for
all the world to see. He pretended to be a worshipper to deceive the Magi (Mt
2:7-8). Eventually, his deception was made manifest, and all could see clearly
the malice in Herod’s heart (see Mt 2:16ff).
Things inside us will also be made manifest. If we treasure
anything besides Jesus, that attachment will eventually be made manifest to the
world (see Mt 10:26-27; Lk 12:3). Is anything in your life more important than
Jesus? You cannot give yourself to God and mammon; you will hate the one and
love the other. You cannot have two masters (Mt 6:24).
What will be made manifest to the world in your life? Like
the magi, lay it before Jesus as a complete self-offering. Let Him have it,
before the whole world sees. Jesus will replace that with His grace, so what is
displayed from your life to the world is “goodness” (Mt 5:16) and “good deeds”
(Eph 2:10).
Prayer: Jesus,
fill me with an insatiable desire to worship You. “Then you shall be radiant at
what you see, your heart shall throb and overflow.” —Is 60:5. Praise You,
Jesus, King of the universe. Alleluia!
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?
The Feast of the Epiphany of
the Lord, also known as Three
Kings' Day or Theophany, is a major Christian feast day commemorating the
manifestation of Jesus Christ to the world. In 2026, the traditional date is
January 6, though many Western dioceses will observe it on Sunday, January 4,
2026
Definition: The word "Epiphany" comes from
the Greek epiphaneia, meaning "manifestation" or
"appearance".
Western Tradition: Primarily commemorates the visit
of the Magi (the Wise Men) to the Christ Child, signifying Jesus' revelation to
the Gentiles (non-Jewish people).
Eastern Tradition: Known as Theophany, it focuses on
the Baptism of Jesus in the Jordan River, where the Holy Trinity was first
revealed.
The Three Signs: Historically, the feast also
celebrates the Wedding at Cana, where Jesus performed his first public miracle.