To read the texts click on the texts: Isa 60:1-6; Eph 3:2-3,5-6; Mt 2:1-12
Epiphany
(Greek “Epiphaneia” “appearance or manifestation”) has been defined as the
manifestation of the divine nature of Jesus to the Gentiles as represented by
the Magi. The feast is also sometimes called the twelfth day as it is
celebrated on the twelfth day after Christmas.
A
story is told of three individuals who professed different religions who were
discussing which religions was the right one. They could not come to any
agreement and the discussion was turning into an argument. They decided to ask
an old man who was sitting near for his opinion. He replied in these words,
“Well, you know there are three ways to get from here to the flour mill. You
can go right over the hill. That is shorter but it is a steep climb. You can go
around the hill on the right side. That is not too far, but the road is rough
and full of potholes. Or you can go around the hill on the left side. That is
the longest way, but it is also the easiest.” He paused and then added, “But
you know when you get there, the mill man doesn’t ask you how you came. All he
asks is, ‘Man, how good is your wheat?’”
The
choice of the Gospel text of today for the feast of the Epiphany underscores
the truth that Jesus is God’s revelation not to a select few, but to the whole
world. The magi or wise men or astrologers in Matthew are guided not only by
pagan astrology but also by the scriptures. Revelation outside Scripture
motivates them to obey the one God; yet, they do not find their way to Jesus
without Scripture. This means that God, not the social or political structures
of the day, is the source of our light. It teaches that openness and humility
are necessary if we wish to read correctly the “signs of the times.” It insists
that when we discover the “promised one,” we must be willing to offer him all
that we have. The light has come, and we are invited to live in it. In contrast to the Jewish leaders, the magi
act rather than merely hear. The gifts they offer; gold, frankincense and myrrh
have taken to be symbolic of the royalty, divinity and the sacrificial death of
Jesus, though Matthew does not give such an explanation. Also though Matthew
does not mention the number who came to worship Jesus, they have been
identified as three because of the three gifts.
What
is more important for Matthew, however, is that the magi are Gentiles in the
extreme, characters that could not be more remote from the Jews in heritage and
worldview. Thus even at the very beginning of Jesus’ life, then, we see the
dividing walls between races and cultures breaking down. Even here, at the
beginning of the Gospel, the mission to all nations is anticipated.
Paul
understood this mission perfectly as is evident in the second reading of today
when he announces that the Gentiles are no longer outsiders but "fellow
heirs, members of the same body, and partakers of the promise in Christ Jesus
through the gospel." This is the Gospel that he preaches because he
received it directly from God and this is the Gospel of which he is a minister.
And that is the paradox that resides deep within Epiphany: we are made, through
Christ, to be both those who bring our gifts to offer him and those who receive
the gift of God's grace to be ministers and stewards of the Gospel ourselves.
As Paul himself notes, this grace was given to him, the "very least of all
the saints," so that he might share the "unsearchable riches of
Christ" and help all people to know that it is God who creates all things
-- not we ourselves.
This
universal idea of mission is also spoken of in the first reading of today in
which the prophet Isaiah promises a light full of hope. Jerusalem went through
destruction and forced migration and is now in desperate need of rebuilding. He
proclaims to the exiles that the darkness of despair has been lifted, and a new
day of restoration has dawned. At last, the light has come! According to
Isaiah, the glory of God will shine through Israel onto the other nations. The
whole world will come to join in the new liturgy of the new Temple. The psalm
echoes this idea when it speaks of justice flourishing and peace on all
humankind. The poor, the needy and the weak will be heard and saved.
Epiphany
seeks to remind us that we cannot and must not restrict or put our God in a
pigeon hole. He is bigger than we can ever imagine and his mercy and
forgiveness are not restricted to only a few but is available to all. Even as
it does this the feast also challenges us to be today the star which guided the
magi to the Christ child. It invites us to so shine that others who have not
yet encountered God in Christ will be motivated to come and encounter him who
in his love continues to sustain the world.
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