We call today’s feast the “Epiphany” but it is really just one of three ‘epiphanies’ we celebrate in our faith tradition. ‘Epiphany’ means a ‘showing’ or ‘revelation’ or ‘manifestation’–a moment of insight—something comes to light. The Church celebrates three ‘revelations’ of God—the adoration of the Magi, the Baptism of Jesus in the Jordan River and the miracle at Cana when Jesus turned the water into wine at the wedding feast.
And, of the four Gospels, only Matthew and Luke include the Christmas story—the birth of Jesus. Today’s Gospel with the magi is Matthew’s Christmas story, just as the shepherds coming to the stable is Luke’s Christmas story heard on Christmas day. The two accounts are quite distinct from each other and have a different thrust or emphasis. In Luke, the stress is on Jesus being God’s revelation to the poor and the rejected (the shepherds). In Matthew, the emphasis is on the universality of Jesus’ mission (the visitation of foreigners, the magi).
So, who were the “wise men”? They are called Magi. Originally a designation of the Persian priestly caste, the word became used of those who were regarded as having more than human knowledge—interpreters of dreams and readers of the skies, astrologers, even magicians. Later, under the influence of the Hebrew Testament texts, they came to be referred to as ‘kings’.
We can also ask, how many wise men were there? Surely three? But, in fact, Matthew does not say. Presumably the number three grew out of there being three gifts. And, the gifts themselves each symbolize a different aspect of the human/divine nature of the Child Jesus. Frankincense is offered to Jesus, the Son of God, the eternal Word of the Father. Gold is offered to Jesus, the King of the human race, the summit of creation. Myrrh is offered to the Savior of the world, who suffers and dies for the salvation of all.
These three gifts are symbolic of the very essence of Christmas—the birth of Jesus, the incarnation of God among us—the Word made flesh. It is the Eternal word of the Father, king of the human race who suffers and dies for our salvation.
What does it all mean? The Infancy Narratives, both in Matthew and Luke, point symbolically to future events in the life of Jesus. Today’s Gospel story is a foreshadowing of the rejection of Jesus by the religious and political leaders of his own people and his acceptance by the Gentiles.
Remember that although Bethlehem was very close to Jerusalem, no Jewish leader is found making his way to visit the Child, the Messiah. On the other hand, we have these foreigners, these outsiders coming from a far away place to worship the Child Jesus. The contrast is deliberate and is a foretaste of what will very soon happen when the new Church gets under way.
As we see in today’s reading from Ephesians, the Gentiles are now coheirs (with the Jews). They are now part of the “we”. Together, we form one People of God and share in the promises God has made.
Today’s celebration then is reminding us that for God there are no foreigners, no outsiders. Everyone can pray “our” Father. There are no exceptions. And, if God is Father of every person, then every single person in this world is my sister or brother.
We are called today to live life in such a way that in our words to and about people; in our actions with people, we will never act in any way except as a caring brother or sister.
The actions of the Magi may very well be a good role model for each of us in the society we live in today. They were astrologers who interpreted past, present and future happenings by the movements of the sun, moon, and stars. They were at the center of the lives of their people who lived in superstition and the fear of forces totally beyond their control. They were, in many ways, like us today.
But today, these foreigners come and prostrate themselves before the newborn Child Jesus who represents the true force in people’s lives – the love of God. The Magi have come to understand, as we are called to embrace, the real source and goal of all living is union with God, represented and made accessible to us in this Child, God Incarnate.
On Epiphany we stand in awe of the revealed mystery of the Word made flesh. As the result of the ‘epiphany’ everything now appears in a different light. In Christ, all the world has seen God, and all peoples have become coheirs to the Kingdom of God. The bright star that guided the Magi to the Child Jesus continues to guide us to God’s loving embrace.
At our Baptism, each of us received a candle lit from the light of Christ (the Easter Candle). We were instructed to keep the flame burning brightly. We are now a people of the Light. Just as the light of the star guided the Magi to the baby Jesus, the light of Jesus guides us to be a caring brothers or sisters.
How brightly does the light we have received reflect the love of God? Are we each and every day beacons of hope and joy? Where is the light of Christ taking us today, tomorrow, and in the days ahead?
May the joy and hope of the Christmas Season forever be in your hearts.