Walking with Jesus: The Epiphany of the Lord

For Sunday, January 8, 2023

Isaiah 60:1-6; Ephesians 3:2-3, 5-6; Matthew 2:1-12

Today we celebrate the feast of the Epiphany: a Greek word that means the manifestation of Jesus Christ to the world. The actual word, “epiphaneia,” means a sudden and striking understanding of something. We know that God sent His Son, Jesus, to our world to show us God’s love and to redeem humanity from sin and show us the way to heaven, our eternal home. Are we letting Jesus be the focal point of our hearts? Are we recognizing Him alone as our treasure? Why not? Where is our hesitation?

According to John Hildesheim’s The Story of the Three Kings, the Magi came from India, Persia and present-day Iran and Iraq. They met in Jerusalem and went from there to Bethlehem. Then, after worshiping and leaving their gifts, they ventured to India where they built the church in which they are buried. Theirs has been an interesting journey: 200 years later, St. Helena placed their caskets in St. Sophia’s  Church in Constantinople. Then, in the 6th century, they were moved to Milan and then to Cologne. Is this really them? There certainly is enough circumstantial evidence to prove it. What is definite is that these are the men who left everything to find Jesus Christ, the newborn Messiah promised to the Jewish nation and the world. The story of Jesus continues: He came to to save Israel and their religious leaders rejected Him, but He was accepted by the Gentiles who were considered outsiders by the Jews. He asks us to live in His love by loving and caring for those God places in our lives who are hurting and in need. Am I … are we ... accepting this mission? We examine the commission in our readings which demand our response to God’s love.

The Israelites have experienced God’s love in freeing them from slavery in Egypt and leading them to the Promised Land. They have waffled many times, and now Isaiah explains that their exile in Babylon has stripped away all illusions they've had for a mighty kingdom. They've failed because they haven't put God first in their lives. They have tried to “do it their own way” … and have not followed the commandments — God’s way of living as His people — and are close to being destroyed. Now they are listening to Isaiah’s vision of a restored Jerusalem leading other nations to God’s true purpose of living in His love. Do I realize that the mission of leading all to God’s love is the reason I was created?

Paul shares with the Ephesians that he is privileged to preach the Good News of God’s love for the benefit of the Gentiles and everyone. The promise of salvation — of heaven — is for all. Paul states firmly and succinctly the Holy Spirit’s purpose: “It has now been revealed … that the Gentiles are coheirs, members of the same body, copartners in the promise in Christ Jesus through the gospel.” [Ephesians 3:6]  

Epiphanies are not always welcomed. Immediately after today’s gospel, Joseph receives a warning dream: A greatly troubled Herod doesn’t want any usurper to his kingship: Kill every male child. Where this was prophesied? Immediate research from Micah 5:1 reads, “But from you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, too small to be among the clans of Judah, from you shall come forth for Me one who is to be ruler in Israel; whose origin is from of old, from ancient times.” And 2 Samuel 5:1-2 reads, “All the tribes of Israel came to David in Hebron and said: ‘Here we are, your bone and your flesh. In days past when Saul was our king, it was you who led the Israelites out and brought them back.’ And the Lord said to you, ‘You shall shepherd my people Israel and shall be commander of Israel.’” Herod devises a scheme to kill Jesus. Mary and Joseph must have remained in Bethlehem for a bit of time, for Matthew says of the magi: “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.” [Matthew 2:10-11]  I can’t imagine the soldiers being inquisitive as to the age or sex of the child. They had direct orders … there was no hesitation … kill for Herod or he will kill us.  

God came as God comes: unexpectedly. God shows up first in the most obvious place — creation. The magi wondered about … researched … followed their belief concerning a new king being born. You would think the magi would be Jews but no,  they were foreigners who used Jewish scriptures to interpret the star …the star that the religious gurus in Israel hadn’t found yet … and the child was born in Bethlehem, an obscure little town … and the infant’s parents were poor and they worshiped Him.

So I reflect on:

• Do I find God in the obvious: sights in nature? At Midnight mass? The Grand Canyon? But miss Him in daily life, like when I help a person in need and I get a smile and a “God bless you?”
• I think of Christmas and the most cherished gift I received … the most pleasurable one I gave: Did I find a special link to my relationship with God? How?

Sacred Space 2023 states:

“Jesus may be an infant but we learn from Matthew that God is very much in charge.  He guides the wise men by a star and warns them later in a dream. They are from the East, a sign that the Messiah is for all peoples, not just the Jews. They bring highly symbolic gifts, gold for a king, frankincense for a priest and myrrh for anointing the dead — prophetic insights regarding Jesus for Mary to ponder in her heart.”