Walking with Jesus: The Epiphany of the Lord C

For Sunday, January 5, 2025

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

It's always nice to “belong.” We learn this from the very beginning. I remember my first day going to kindergarten: I was sitting on the porch waiting for my siblings to “escort” me to school, and I refused to go. I was wearing shorts and I said, “I’m a big boy now so I have to wear long pants.” (You can tell I was very shy and reserved.) The school years reinforced the theme of belonging — to a sports team, cheerleading, clubs, sororities. We all enjoyed the notoriety, the applause, the awards — the recognition that came with belonging. This progressed outward to our nationality and cultural ethnicity. What did this “belonging” mean to us? We were important and recognized and had a role to play in something bigger than ourselves. The bottom line: I wasn’t alone; I was accepted into a group — which helped immensely in forming my identity. This belonging is carried over in the readings today.

God created the world and, on the last day, created people. We ALL were created out of love. Moses is explicit in explaining this in the Book of Genesis. God’s creation was a result of His love, not because of wars between the gods as seen in ancient worlds’ “creation accounts.” God created humanity with a plan — God’s plan — which Jesus explained throughout His life, passion, death, resurrection, and ascension into heaven with the promise that every person ever created has a place in heaven if they follow the commandments and Jesus’ commandments of love. When I was growing up, today’s feast of the Epiphany was known in many parts of the world as “Little Christmas” because it celebrated the manifestation of God to all the nations. The visit of the Magi and the implications of that visit declare that God is God to all the peoples of the world. Today’s readings establish this importance: Jerusalem is the light for the nations; Christ is the revelation of God to all the nations; and now there is a new relationship established, in Christ, between Jew and Gentile. Heretofore, the “different” religious beliefs have felt that they are the most important. Now the significance of this feast is that God is the God to all peoples — He is to be listened to, acknowledged and believed. All are one in Jesus. Do I feel my way is the right way? Do I follow what I want because that’s what I want to do? Or — do I follow Jesus?

Isaiah portrays Jerusalem (the “you” of the oracle) as a beacon of light shining in the darkness. In the first three verses, the light comes from the manifestation of God’s glory upon the city. Then in verses 4 through 6, Jesus’ radiance comes in the return of the exiles from their captivity. Their captives treasure their return with gifts accepting Israel’s God. This light is God’s light. Israel hasn't just been delivered from their captivity; major centers of wealth have sent their goods, their products and produce to Jerusalem. They believe this good fortune is evidence of God’s favor, and this is the reason they are to “rise up in splendor” in praise and gratitude for all God has done and continues to do for them. How am I doing in being God’s grateful servant?

Paul develops a major theme — the unity between Jew and Gentile — in his writings to the Ephesians. They are not to be considered outsiders or “second fiddles” to God’s plan of redemption; rather, they are members of the same body and copartners in the promise. This “plan” previously has been hidden or not accepted by the people. Paul continues to reveal that God has always been present and this is from the Spirit — not to exclude but to welcome, love, and share.

Matthew dives right into Jewish scripture to tell the story of Jesus. He tells of God’s plan for eternity and the emergence of a new Davidic King. This is widely accepted because Herod is not of Davidic descent and the people do not accept or want him. Matthew includes a few “special little points” which easily can be missed, like the gifts the Magi bring — gold and frankincense to honor a king — and the Magi kneel and pay Jesus homage (cf. Psalm 72:10-11). This goes beyond reverence to worshiping. Matthew again ties together the overall theme of the readings: the entrance of Gentiles into God’s plan of salvation through the worship of Jesus. Am I free in expressing my love, gratitude and reverence, honoring Jesus as my Lord and God?  

So I reflect on:

• The Magi follow the star ... Herod tries to use its appearance for his own wicked goals ... “Honor me.” Do I bring too much of these same “wants” into my own life? Is it “my way or the highway?”
• There are so many signs in the birth and revelation of Jesus — it’s so easy to place myself in the scene and look … watch … listen … see the faces. Are they about love and devotion? Am I a follower of Jesus or just a distant presence? Why?

Sacred Space 2025 states:

“Because we could not go to God, God came to us and dwelt among us. As Fr. Canice Egan SJ put it, ‘In the silence of the night Love Itself stole down unseen to embrace the hearts of all.’ That the Creator of the universe would deign to take on the nature of His creature and become one of us is so astonishing that we cannot take it in. We ask God to reveal Himself to us as He promised He would.”