I was talking to a friend recently about the celebration of the three kings during the Christmas season, and he did not realize that the feast of the Epiphany was related to the three kings. So what does the word epiphany mean, since it is a word we don’t use often in daily conversation aside from the celebration of this feast day? According to the Merriam-Webster Dictionary, epiphany means (1) a usually sudden manifestation or perception of the essential nature or meaning of something or (2) an illuminating discovery, realization, or disclosure. It comes from the Greek word “epiphaneia” - which means appearance or manifestation. It is very interesting that when so many people in Ancient Israel - including the Jewish scholars and priests and leaders - did not recognize the significance or nature of Jesus’ birth when he was born in the stable in Bethlehem. It was the shepherds who were tending their flocks in the middle of the night, through the visit of the angel, who were able to recognize Jesus as the Messiah who is coming to bring great joy to the world. And the Magi, strangers to the land of Israel, who through the guidance of a miraculous star, were able to recognize the special nature of Christ’s birth. The shepherds and the Magi are messengers, announcing to all the nations that the Savior has been born, that the light of God in the Christ-child is shining forth in the world.
Christ is our light in the world, which we know for sure from our faith. God’s light shined on the Magi in the star that guided them because they were open to receive that light in their lives.
Indeed, God’s light shines on those who are willing to receive it. The prophet Isaiah tells us today that that light of God does not prevent the darkness from covering the earth, but God’s light shines forth on those prepared to accept it. So, Isaiah addresses a challenge to all of us, telling us to: “Arise, shine” (60:1). Just as the Magi respond to the challenge of a long journey to meet the Christ child, we also need to arise, to get up from our sedentary lives and prepare for a journey. Otherwise, we will stand still, like the scribes that Herod consulted, who knew very well where the Messiah was born, but they were not able to respond in faith. God calls us to shine with his light. God needs us to shine to be lights in the world. Herod, the scribes, and so many in Ancient Israel preferred the earthly lights of success and power to the divine light that Christ brought. We see the Magi fulfilling Isaiah’s prophecy. They arise and shine. They clothe themselves in the light of God. They alone are able to see and recognize the star in the heavens: not the scribes, nor Herod, nor any of the inhabitants of Jerusalem.
So many paths call out to us in our world today. But, in order to find Jesus like the Magi found him, we also need to take a different route, to follow a different path, his path, the path of humble love, the path of faith. And we will have to persevere. Today’s Gospel ends by saying that the Magi, after encountering Jesus, “left for their own country by another road”. The Magi took an alternative route than that of the world, like the road taken by those who surrounded Jesus at Christmas: Mary and Joseph, the shepherds. Like the Magi, they left home and became pilgrims on the path of God. That path is only those who are will to undertake a journey to find the mystery of God.
I have always loved the story of the Magi ever since I was a child. Their story is so vivid and appeals to our imagination. What can we learn from the gifts that the Magi bring? Their first gift was gold, the most precious of metals, reminding us that God has to be granted first place in our lives, that he is to be worshipped and valued. In the frankincense the Magi offered as the second gift, we can see it symbolizing a relationship with the Lord through prayer. Our prayers rise up to God like smoke from the incense. Just as incense must burn in order to yield its fragrance, so too, our prayers must burn in our hearts as we spend time with God in our prayers. That brings us to myrrh, the ointment that would be lovingly used on Jesus’ body, preparing it for burial after he was taken down from the cross. Myrrh reminds us of the suffering and sacrifices we will have to make for our faith. As our Christmas season is soon drawing to a close, let us not miss the opportunity to bring our own precious gifts to the Lord. Let us not miss the opportunity to have his light shine upon us and for us to be shining lights in the world.
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