The Epiphany of the Lord – Jan. 5,
2025
Isaiah 60:1-6; Ephesians 3:2-3a; 5-6;
Matthew 2:1-12.
Theme: Jesus is the Epiphany of God, and We are Called
to be the Epiphany of Jesus
Today, we celebrate the feast of the Epiphany.
From its Greek origin: epi, “on, upon,” and phaino, “to appear,
to shine,” the word “Epiphany” refers to the divinity of Jesus “shining upon”
the world. So, Epiphany is the celebration of God’s self-manifestation through
Jesus. The early Church identified three specific events that reveal Jesus’
divine nature. The modern Lectionary and liturgical calendar maintain them
together in three celebrations. The first celebration is the visit of the Magi,
which we celebrate today. The second is the Baptism of the Lord, which we will
celebrate next Sunday. The third celebration will be on Sunday that follows the
Baptism of the Lord (the second Sunday in Ordinary Time), which always has
either a Gospel passage of the Wedding at Cana (John 2:1-11, Year C) or John
the Baptist’s testimony about Jesus (the section that comes right before the
Wedding at Cana: Jn 1:29-34, Year A, and John 1:35-42, Year B), which reveals
Jesus’ divine identity. Today's Gospel relates the story of Jesus’
self-manifestation to the three wise men called the Magi. A star led them to
the place where Jesus was born. This star echoes the light that the Prophet
Isaiah talks about in our first reading, which shined forth from Jerusalem,
attracting peoples from near and far, from land and sea. In the second reading,
Saint Paul teaches the Ephesians and us that the Gentiles and all of us are
members of the same body of Christ. God continues to reveal himself to us today
through our “stars”: the sacraments (especially the Eucharist and Confession),
Bible Study, Faith formation, and all our Church ministries. We are called to
reveal Jesus to our brothers and sisters as Jesus reveals God to us.
According to Brown’s setting of the Gospel
of Matthew, our text is situated in the first section called “Introduction:
Origin and Infancy of Jesus the Messiah,” which forms the prologue of the
Gospel (1:1 – 2:23).[1] This
prologue consists of a genealogy (1:1-17) and five stories. Our text comes
immediately after the story of the “birth of Jesus” (1:18-25), and it is
followed by the “flight to Egypt” (2:13-15,) the “massacre of the Infant”
(2:16-18,) and the “return from Egypt” (2:19-23) which concludes the section.
Through this infancy narrative, the narrator presents the coming of Jesus as
the climax of Israel’s history and the events of his conception, birth, and
early childhood as the fulfillment of the Old Testament prophecy.[2]
Our text is a narrative story. It can be
structured in three movements. First, the narrator puts in the scene the magi
who need further information on where the newborn king is born, Herod and all
Jerusalem who become troubled in hearing this information, and the chief
priests and scribes from whom Herod got information regarding what the Old
Testament prophets wrote about the Messiah (vv. 1-6). Second, the narrator
tells Herod's request to the magi (vv. 7-8) and the encounter of the magi with
the Infant Jesus and his parents (vv. 9-11). Third, the story concludes with
the magi departing for their country, not returning to Herod, but in another
way (v.12).
Matthew commences this Gospel account of
the birth of Jesus by mentioning Bethlehem, King Herod, and the magi. (Matthew
2: 1-2). Explaining these three names will help us better understand the
theological meaning of our Gospel passage. First, “Bethlehem of Judea,” the
birthplace of Jesus, is where David was anointed king. (1 Samuel 16: 1-13). So,
by mentioning “Bethlehem of Judea” here, the evangelist wants to confirm that
Jesus is from the line of David. Therefore, this newborn is the Messiah
foretold by the prophets of the Old Testament. Second, Herod was appointed by
the Roman senate to rule Judea (37 to 4 B.C.) The Jewish historian Josephus
reports that he was a brutal tyrant. He executed large numbers of political
opponents, including his own family members. The primary goal of his life was
to maintain his power. That is why he was constantly vigilant against possible
threats to it, particularly those who pretended to fulfill the royal prophecies
foretold by the prophets. Herod was highly paranoid to the point that all
people feared him. My assumption in the context of our Gospel is that the
people in Herod’s city and court were not pleased with the magi's arrival
insofar as their interpretation of a king born among the Jews would provoke
Herod’s paranoia. And when Herod’s paranoia enflamed, people would die.
Third, the magi were learned men,
academics, or scientists of their time. They studied astronomy, which was not
distinct from astrology in antiquity. As astronomical phenomena were identified
with historical events, the magi were the ones to bring interpretations.
Matthew reports an astronomical event around the time of Jesus’ birth and the
interpretation of the three magi, indicating a new royal line among the Jews.
In this Gospel passage, Matthew tells us
that the first persons to whom the divinity of Jesus was revealed were not the
insiders from the Jewish community but the foreign magi who came from the East.
This illustrates the universalism of God’s revelation. In our first reading,
Prophet Isaiah already prophesied that caravans of camels shall fill Jerusalem;
all from Sheba shall come bearing gold and frankincense and proclaiming the
praises of the Lord. (Isaiah 60:6). Also, in our second reading, Saint Paul confirms
this universalism of God’s revelation when he says that “the Gentiles are
coheirs, members of the same body, and copartners in the promise in Christ
Jesus through the gospel.” (Ephesians 3:6). God continues to reveal himself to people
from different backgrounds. The Church is the visible sign of God’s revelation
as it welcomes people from all nations.
Matthew speaks of the star that guided the
magi to where the new King Jesus was born. To see and know God, we must go to
Jesus, the Epiphany of his Father. So, we need to find our star, the light from
above, who can lead us to him. Our Gospel says that the three wise men came
from afar, meaning they traveled a long distance to discover where the newborn
King was born. No doubt they were tired, but they did not give up. They
faithfully followed the star. You and I are the “magi” of today. Our earthly
life is a long journey to Jesus, who reveals who God is. We need revelatory
stars that lead us to Jesus. And once we find them, we need to follow their
guidance faithfully.
The Eucharistic celebration (Mass) is the
first and most excellent star that draws us closer to our Lord. During Mass,
Jesus reveals God to us. When we attend Mass, we take part in the heavenly
banquet; we sit at the same table with Christ; we hear him when he speaks to us
through the Scripture readings, and he hears us when we lift up our petitions,
prayers, and songs to him. At the celebration of the Eucharist, we touch Jesus
through the Holy Communion that we receive, and we become one with him. Mass is
the star that leads us to Jesus.
The Word of God (Bible) is another star
that shows us the way to Jesus. God reveals himself in the Bible. Saint Jerome
said that ignorance of Scripture is ignorance of Christ. So, our Holy Mother Church
exhorts us to open our Bibles regularly, read, study, share, and pray with the
Word of God. I lead the Liturgical Weekly Bible Study all Mondays at 6:00 pm Central
Time virtually via Zoom (Zoom Meeting ID: 836 4516 5259. Passcode: Bible) and
in person (Holy Family Catholic Church: 820 Forest Ave., Jackson, MS 39206). I
encourage you to join my Bible Study Classes to grow up in our knowledge of
God.
There are many more stars that we should
also use as our guides, such as Church ministries (choir, lector, Eucharist
Ministers, catechists, Parish Pastoral and Finance Councils, Men club, Ladies club,
Young Adult Ministry, Youth Ministry, Usher/Security, and all ministries, commissions,
and committees). We strengthen our relationship with God when we serve God in
these ministries and committees.
The path of the magi did one stop in
Herod’s territory. The magi revealed to everyone that they were searching for
the newborn king of the Jews because they saw his star rising. Herod was
greatly troubled when he heard the news about the Newborn King Jesus. Matthew
tells us that “all Jerusalem” was troubled along with him (Mt 2: 2-3). That was
not good news for Herod, who did not want anyone to threaten his power. As I
mentioned above, Herod was highly paranoid. He had such control over his
subjects that they were too afraid to show any disloyalty to him. When Matthew
says that all people in Jerusalem were afraid along with Herod, this does not
mean that they worry about the power of their king Herod. Instead, the people
worried about their peace. They knew that when Herod was distressed, people
would die. Today, Herod represents all who take comfort in the darkness and
fear the light. Those who do not accept Jesus to be the king of their lives. We
must abandon all the works of darkness and come to the light as prophet Isaiah
exhorts us in our first reading.
When the magi encountered the newborn
Jesus, they prostrated themselves, did him homage, and offered him the presents
of gold (meaning that Jesus is a King), frankincense (Jesus is a high priest
and God), and myrrh (predicting the redemptive passion and death of Jesus). The
gestures of the Magi and the meaning of their gifts are found in the liturgy of
the Eucharist. At Mass, we praise Jesus, our Lord, the king of the universe. He
is the Higher Priest who celebrates his own Mass through the human priest. At Mass,
we commemorate the Paschal ministry (the Passion, Death, and Resurrection of
Jesus).
After experiencing the “Epiphany of our
Lord” in their mystical contact with Jesus, the magi departed for their country
in another way, avoiding the way that would lead them back to Herod, the symbol
of sin in this context. During the liturgy of the Mass, a mystical encounter
occurs between us and Jesus, provoking a metanoia, “conversion.” That is
why, at the end of the Mass, being transformed, we are called to return to our
homes using a different way, which is the way of conversion. We abandon our old
life and start a new one with Jesus.
Jesus, the star of our lives, is God's
Epiphany. He draws us closer to God. As his followers, we are called to be the
stars for our brothers and sisters. We must help them see Jesus and come closer
to him through good examples of our Christian lives. Amen.
Rev. Leon Ngandu, SVD
Pastor at Holy Family Church,
Jackson, MS
SVD USS Biblical Apostolate Coordinator
[1]
Raymon E. Brown, An Introduction to the New Testament (New York:
Doubleday, 1997), 172.
[2]
NABRE, note to Matthew 1: 1-2:23.
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