EPIPHANY OF THE LORD
(Isaiah 60:1-6; Ephesians 3:2-3.5-6; Matthew 2:1-12)
It is nothing new that the three magi are not kings. Nor
should they be considered magicians in the sense that they practice magic.
Rather, Saint Matthew's intention is to present them as seekers of truth. They
diligently search the heavens to determine exactly what the future holds. In a
way they are like meteorologists looking for signs in the atmosphere to predict
the weather tomorrow, next week, or in a year.
The gospel does not specify where the wise men come from.
But because of their placement in the east and their interest in science, bible
commentators believe they are Persians. Anyway, they have heard of the “king of
the Jews” who was to be born. Perhaps they have heard of the prophecy that a
descendant of King David is going to sit on his throne forever. He is the
long-awaited Jewish Messiah who will reestablish David's kingdom and attract
the world’s monarchs to hear his wisdom. The magi follow the newborn's star to
pay him tribute.
The star provides the magi with only part of the truth. It
can indicate approximately where the King is, but not precisely. For this,
divine revelation is needed. This is why the Jews refer to the Scriptures when
the magi ask, “Where is the king of the Jews…?” The prophet Micah wrote that
the Messiah was to be born in Bethlehem.
The reference to the Scriptures provides us with a very
urgent lesson for contemporary times. Every field of human study -- even the
hard sciences like physics, chemistry, and biology -- cannot reveal the truth
in its fullness. To know the complete truth we need God’s revelation. This is
particularly the case in reference to morality. Without recourse to Scripture,
people will allow manipulation of the body and soul to achieve their ends. For
this reason in some parts there are persistent calls for the Church to bless
gay marriages and for the state to allow the extermination of people with severe
disabilities.
The magi finally encounter Jesus, the king who embodies the
complete truth. His teachings will form a just people. His actions will show
followers that eternal happiness does not consist of endless pleasure but of measureless
love. The gifts presented by the magi are fitting for such a king. He is worth
more than gold. As the Son of God he deserves praises that like fragrant
incense ascend to heaven. And because as a human he will suffer death for a
time, myrrh for his burial is included.
Despite the benefits that the King-Messiah brings, some do
not want him to reign. They would eliminate him as if he were the plague and
not the remedy for every ailment. Herod does not want to share power with
anyone, even one who will bring peace to his reign. Others do not want to
listen to Jesus because of the pride, greed, and lust that drive his hearts.
These are not necessarily people foreign to us. It has been said that the line
separating good and evil does not run through families, nations, or faith
communities but through each human heart. Therefore, we must strive to increase
daily our likeness to the King.
Jesus should be the focus of our lives. If we meditate every
day on how to put the gospel into practice, we will have the truth at our
disposal. When we live it, we will experience eternal happiness.
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