THE EPIPHANY OF THE LORD, January 3, 2021
(Isaiah 60: 1-6; Ephesians 3: 2-3.5-6; Matthew 2:1-12)
Who are the magi? They are not kings even though they carry
exquisite gifts. Nor are they magicians. They are researchers. They study the
heavens and the earth in search of truth. We can consider them wisemen since they
are looking for more than knowledge of physical reality. They also want to know the meaning behind the
reality.
The magicians focus on the star. It represents nature in all
its complexity and the extent of existence. Through nature we can know
something about God. At least it can be concluded that God exists as the
creator of the universe. We can also deduce from nature that God expects
justice from humans. Everyone has a conscience to distinguish between good and
bad. We know that it is bad to murder one’s neighbor and good to give alms to
the poor.
However, we cannot know God through nature. We could not say
that God is loving and merciful without His help. For this reason the magicians
have to consult the Jews for the whereabouts of the "king of the
Jews." The Jews have the self-revelation of God Himself. They know where
the “ruler, who to shepherd… Israel,” will be born.
Curiously, the Jews do not want to accompany the magi in
their search for truth. In fact, when hearing of the newborn "king of the
Jews," Herod, their leader, becomes jealous. In time he will devise a plot
to kill him. Certainly not everyone seeks truth. Some have other goals in life.
Instead of seeking truth, they want pleasure, money, or power.
These people could not appreciate the glory of God in Jesus Christ
if they found him. They think of sacrifice as insanity, simplicity as lack of
success, and humility as personal flaw. In contrast, the magi rejoice when they
find Jesus. He who is going to sacrifice himself to redeem the world is met as
the infant son of a carpenter. He does not live in a palace but an ordinary
house. Like Simeon in the Gospel according to Saint Luke, the Magi see the light
to all nations in the face of the child Jesus.
Many young people today consider themselves seekers. They do
not want to declare themselves as practicing any religion. They dismiss
Catholicism as petrified with ancient rules and customs. They want beliefs in
accordance with the truth of the self, the environment, and the equality of all
people. We believe that if they investigate reality at its roots like the magi,
they will find this truth in Jesus Christ. He no longer lives in a house in
Bethlehem but in the church that he founded. It is up to us, members of that
church, to show young people that rules and customs are not impediments but
links. They connect us with the magi of the first century and the saints
throughout history. More to the point, they put us in touch with Jesus Christ,
King of the Jews and Redeemer of the world.
