THE EPIPHANY OF THE LORD
Scripture: 1st reading Isaiah 6-:1-6
2nd reading Ephesians 3:2-3a, 5-6
Gospel Matthew 2: 1-12
Today (tonight) we celebrate the Epiphany of the Lord. This is the story of God’s appearance to us, becoming man and taking the name Jesus. It is also a story of three Wise Men, Gentiles, following a star to find out who this important person is. But just suppose what would of happened if it had been three wise women who came to see the Christ child?
They would have asked for directions along the way, arrived on time, helped deliver the baby, cleaned the stable, made a casserole, and brought practical gifts. However, that is not how it happened.
Today, we remember the story of the three Wise Men, (the Magi) who came from faraway lands to worship the baby Jesus. They came guided by the light of a star.
Light! Without it we stumble in the dark. Without it we see nothing. Without it, we are lost. The light I am talking about is the light our hearts receive when we have opened ourselves to the Epiphany, the revealing of God becoming human; the baby Jesus lying in a manger wrapped in swaddling clothes.
Back then, it was mainly the Gentiles, represented by the three Wise Men, who were to be drawn to this star of Bethlehem and came to believe in God’s greatest self-revelation in the person of Jesus Christ.
We are told nothing of what the Wise Men said, but the gospel today from Matthew, in a very concrete way, describes the act of their faith in Him, whom they sought falling prostrate paying Jesus homage.
Then they offered Jesus gifts; Gold-as befitting a royal person, Frankincense-reserved for the worship of God, and Myrrh-a substance used in dressing a wound and embalming bodies, signifying that this child was truly man, capable of suffering and destined one day to die.
All this from following the light of a star that not only shown in the night sky but also in the day and the Epiphany of who this little babe in a manger really was.
Now, you might say that we have no gold or Frankincense or Myrrh. That is true, but we do have something more valuable, precious treasures that we can present to Christ, our Savior and King. We bring gold to Christ every time we let Him be King of our hearts.
We offer Frankincense by our worship and prayers proclaiming His Divinity. And we can, in some small way, alleviate pain of the wounds He suffered for us by applying the Myrrh of our own sufferings, our sorrows, our tears.
Today we gather to look at the light from a star that has been burning since His birth. Jesus is the true Light, the Light of the world. The prophet Isaiah says in our first reading: “Nations shall walk by your light, and kings by your shining radiance.”
The smaller light in the sky drew the three Wise Men to travel many miles to pay tribute to and adore the true Light of the world, Jesus Christ. Their visit was one way of showing that light to the world. Today, how the world needs this Light!!
All of us need light. We need it to see. Most likely we have looked for something in a dark room. Not until we turn on the electric switch or snap on a flashlight can we find what we want.
Christ helps us to see what we need to see, to believe. He helps us see the solutions to our problems. He helps us to see our neighbor in need. He helps us to see how we can help one another.
A light leads the way. Did you ever walk along a dark road or sidewalk with others when only one had a flashlight? He lights the way for others. Christ does that for us. He is light itself, the source of all light. He shows the way we must walk, the way we must live. Remember what I mentioned earlier, “Nations shall walk by His light?”
When we accept in our hearts the revelation of God to us in a manger, Jesus Christ, we will see in this Light things beyond our comprehension, things beyond our imagination: A beautiful sunrise, a magnificent sunset, A new born child lying in a crib, a newborn child lying in a manger wrapped in swaddling clothes.
How can we not live in His light when we see the miracle of conception to birth? How many times have we said of a newborn child, “What a precious gift from God”. An Epiphany of God’s presence among us, you bet!
Jesus Christ, the true light starts the fire of love in our hearts. He helps us to see the miracles, the grace offered by the Father. From Jesus we find the spark that makes us want to please God and do good to our neighbor.
I can’t help but think of how those back in Jesus’ time who believed the revelation of who he was and of us today who have accepted the truth of who He is, have had their lives changed forever. My personal Epiphany was on the day of my ordination when Archbishop Brunett laid his hands on my head giving me the Spirit of the Diaconate, the Spirit of God to do his will. I know that many of you have had Your personal Epiphanies as I have. Never forget that, for it is the light of Christ guiding you! And remember that there are many Epiphanies in our lives.
We process and bring lighted candles to this altar during mass to remind us that Christ is the light of the world, the light of your heart and mine., the light that is born again during this Holy Sacrifice. The Sanctuary lamp tells us that Christ, the light, is really in our tabernacle day and night.
Like the Magi, we have come here to adore in this and every mass the true light, Jesus Christ. May he help us to see in the darkness of this world to find our way and to truly love, to be truly happy. And by His body and blood in us we can be the light to others in knowing who He really is.
We need to keep ourselves open to the daily Epiphanies of God’s revelation to us. We must be ready to meet Him in the most simplest of times or in the greatest of times. He will never reveals himself to us the way we expect. Have you experienced this yourselves?
By the way, I mentioned earlier what if the story had three wise women? It was a wise woman in my life that helped me see the light, the light that lead me to my ordination day and for Him and her I am forever grateful.