God's Epiphany
Dear friends of Christ,
Our Readings for The Epiphany of the Lord are filled with a lot of contrasts: darkness and light, searching and finding, the magi Gentiles from the east versus the conniving Herod and the Jews of Jerusalem.
An Epiphany!
The Christmas tide slowly ends with the feasts of Epiphany and the Baptism of the Lord. The word “epiphany” means to suddenly realise something. It is usually religious or philosophical. An epiphany is something that kind of hits you and gives new meaning to a situation or an issue. It is a helpful definition of what we have heard in our Readings. A Christmas message made flesh:
God, who longs to reveal himself – who he is;
God, who waits until the time is right;
God, who enters into our world as an innocent and vulnerable child;
God – this great mystery – who walks with us in the person of Jesus Christ.
This is it - the Christmas message that we carry with us every day. In the ancient world, it was common to believe that a new star appeared at the time of a ruler’s birth.
The Gospel Of Matthew
In the Gospel from Matthew, the three Magi are wise men from the East, also known as astrologers. They have seen a star and asked where they could find the newborn King of the Jews. These three figures are an interesting contrast to King Herod. The Jewish King is so focused on preserving his power and way of life that he plans to kill the foretold NEW King of the Jews.
Power & Money vs Peace & Justice
The attraction of power and money and the need to control other people can make a person do all kinds of cruel, inhuman things. This is where we need to look at the Magi as role models. They are the ones who go out to follow the star – leaving behind all their security and search for the divine King of peace and justice. And they find him. Jesus, the Christ, the little baby, the divine epiphany, they fall to their knees and open their treasures to him. This is the image that we need to imitate.
Biblical Role Models
Another biblical role model for us is St. Paul. He is also a seeker who longs to find the truth and stability. During his life as a Pharisee, Paul (as Saul) thinks that what he believes is absolutely right. Until, on his way to Damascus, a journey that changed him forever. Saul spent several days in darkness until, he was opened to the truth. In the Second Reading, he affirms: “that mystery was made known to me by revelation”. We might say that in his darkness Saul had an “aha! moment” – an epiphany. Saul became so filled with awe at the message of God made flesh, that he went out and became a great preacher with a new name. Paul – the Apostle sent to the Gentiles. Paul not only preaches it, he gets IT – he lives the message: That everyone receives this great love of God.
The Body of Christ
We are all “members of the same body, and co-partners in the promise in Christ Jesus through the gospel.” Paul's and our “epiphany” is that everyone can be saved. Every human is accepted and redeemed through the Love of God! This Love of God appears through the little baby in the manger and the man on the cross! My friends, the innocent baby and the tortured crucified is the same revelation of God’s Love. In this perspective - the almighty God in Jesus Christ lives in us – and so, you and I, WE ALL ARE AN EPIPHANY OF GOD’S LOVE. It is wonderful to meditate on this message over and over again.
WE ALL ARE AN EPIPHANY OF GOD’S LOVE.
Praise be to Jesus Christ. Now and forever. Amen.