Readings:

Is. 60:1-6; Ps. 72; Eph. 3:2-3a, 5-6; Mt. 2:1-12

Happy New Year and Happy Feast of the Epiphany of the Lord. Since this is a Jubilee Year, I pray that this year will be full of hope, good health, love, and a time of true encounter with the Lord Jesus. Today, we celebrate the Epiphany, the revelation, of the God-man and the awesome significance this event has for all people. The prophet Isaiah speaks of a great light, the glory of the Lord, which has overcome the darkness to make Jerusalem a shining example to all nations. He also prophesies that the Gentiles will come bearing gifts of gold and frankincense proclaiming the praises of the Lord. We see this prophecy fulfilled in today’s gospel as the magi from the East bring their gifts to the newborn Jesus. In a similar way, we gather today to offer our gifts and praises to the Lord who is present in our midst.

In his letter to the Ephesians, St. Paul says that the mystery of God’s salvation was made known to him by revelation, namely, that the Gentiles are coheirs and copartners in the promise of Christ Jesus through the gospel. He also says in his letter to the Romans, “Thus faith comes from what is heard, and what is heard comes through the word of Christ” (Rm. 10:17). The gospel, the written word of Christ, therefore, is the light to guide us all.

Matthew describes the account of the magi, traveling from the East to pay homage to the newborn king. The Magi were star-gazers who likely came from Babylon. The Book of Daniel mentions “wise men, astrologers, Chaldeans and soothsayers” (Dn. 5:11). The Chaldeans were the Babylonians. As star-gazers, the magi would read signs in the stars. There was a discovery of cuneiform inscriptions describing astrological events that would predict the coming of a “great king” in the west who would bring peace and justice for all nations. While the magi sought truth in the stars, what we see happening in the gospel is God using the stars to lead the magi to the source of truth, to lead them to Jesus.

In his letter to the Romans, St. Paul says, “Ever since the creation of the world, [God’s] invisible attributes of eternal power and divinity have been able to be understood and perceived in what he has made” (Rm. 1:20). That is to say God has left an imprint of himself within Creation. Therefore, that the Magi are led by a star to encounter Christ is an example of how God reveals himself. The word ‘epiphany’ implies a revelation of God.

I am not advocating, however, that all paths lead to God, but rather, at the appointed time, God used the practices of the magi to bring them to Christ so that they may be transformed. And what does Matthew tell us about the transformation of the magi? “And having been warned in a dream not to return to Herod, they departed for their country by another way.” The early Christians called their religion “The Way.” Is it any surprise, then, that these foreigners, having encountered the revelation of God in the child Jesus, would begin to follow another way?

So, what about us? Revelation literally means unveiling. How many of us have been living in darkness? How many of us have been out of the loop? How many of us have allowed our heads to be filled with nonsense, rather than truth? These are hard questions to ask, but unless we are courageous enough to ask them of ourselves, we may find ourselves wandering in darkness. Seek, rather, the light of Christ. He is the one who is our truth; he is the one who shows us the way; he is the one who gives us eternal life.

One last point about today’s gospel. The star the magi followed led them to Jesus. This star was no ordinary star, nor was it a conjunction of planets. We know this because the Greeks had different words for both stars and planets. Matthew says that the star went before them until it came and stood over where Jesus was. This is reminiscent of the pillar of fire that led Moses and the Israelites through the desert. Clearly this was a mystical experience and the magi would have intuited as much, which is why they followed the star. And having arrived to the place where Jesus was, they were forever changed. That is to say, the people who once walked in darkness have seen a great light.

It is impossible to avoid themes of light and dark during the Christmas season, especially as our days are now getting longer. So, this Epiphany, may the Lord Jesus give us true light that we may see our life as it truly is, to make any necessary changes, to more fully embrace Christ. And may the communion we share—our own encounter with the Blessed Lord—strengthen our faith, hope, and love, so that as we celebrate this Jubilee year, we will seek to walk always in the light of Christ.