One of my favorite episodes of Christmas stories is the searching for the newborn King and Savior, Jesus Christ, by the three Magi from the East in order to pay homage and bring gifts to Him. The Epiphany story is the manifestation or the revelation of the Light, which was embraced by humanity through the representation of the three Magi or Kings.
This is the time to think what gifts we would bring to Jesus. In other parts of the world, people will just be getting ready to open their gifts to each other. It’s a long wait after Christmas and Santa Claus coming to reveal all the precious gifts we will be receiving. I still have unopened gifts that I received to put meaning to this feast of the Epiphany. I am excited for this day to unwrap these gifts. I am truly grateful to those generous people who found time to remember me this Christmas, and in return I offer prayers and celebrate mass for their intentions.
I am grateful to God for the best gift I have ever received, the gift of life, for 60 years is indeed a great blessing. My thankfulness to God is just like an ocean of water that cannot even be put into a container or a single bucket. It is a tremendous joy when we appreciate very much the goodness of God.
Today’s liturgy is about this mysterious God, Who is Love, and Who through His Incarnate Son manifests the light that shines for all nations. It is no secret that His love can be understood in the totality of His being with us, “Emmanuel.”
Why and how God loves remains the deepest part of His great epiphany. Let us reflect on the readings today.
The First Reading from the Book of the Prophet Isaiah tells us that Jerusalem is exceedingly joyful because it is the center of religious activity which all nations will be oriented to. They bring gifts from afar as a community worshiping God, Who is near to their heart.
The second reading from the Letter of St. Paul to the Ephesians expresses how God loves all of us. God is not only for the chosen people, but also all the Gentiles and pagans, who are being called by God as His people which means He has been close to all whom He created. The mystery of God has been known by all people. The gospel has been preached to us and shared as good news about Jesus being part of one whole family who believes.
St. Matthew’s gospel today reminds us of the three Magi as a fulfilment of the 1st reading from Isaiah. The Magi traveling from afar, searching and finding the Savior, is a story of great faith which had been revealed to them thru their knowledge and their decision to kneel before the King of Kings, the New Light radiating to all humanity.
Let us dwell on some points that would help us be able to understand the revelation of the infinite Light of God.
First, the Magi searched with their wisdom, knowledge, and faith; however, I do believe that they found the baby, Jesus, not through their ideas and intelligence, but by the guidance of God who is a person and who was prophesied and revealed so that we would understand the mystery of God.
Second, the bright light of the star that points and guides to the final journey of the Magi, is the reflection of the light coming from the face of God. Jesus is the Light and, in that Light, we have come to know just a bit of what God thinks of us. Because of this, kings, shepherds, and all of us had a little of our own mysteries manifested as well. God knows everyone of us.
Third, by the manifestation of Jesus to the Gentiles, the Magi indicates that we are out of darkness and pay homage to the Savior of the world who illuminates us to ourselves and others. This light shines upon us, within us, and then through us to let the splendor of God be known to all.
Fourth, the Magi returned by another route. It indicates that they too were renewed and avoided Herod. They return to a new and different way of relating to life. Hence, we take it seriously to make ourselves be born anew in the Light of Jesus. Going a different route means an enlightened heart to follow the path of surrender to God and participate in the enlightened world choosing God.
Fifth, this feast touches me deeply. The promises of God to the people, as part of the new covenant, is to forge a gifted relationship with God. The Magi offered their own gifts, but the intention was to offer the King of all Kings a gesture of gratitude for His very presence. It is the greatest gift of all, extended to all the ends of the earth.
Today we might discover a new star to guide us in our journey too. We expect to find something wonderful thru the presence of God in our family and friends with our accumulated knowledge and with humility to bend down praying in gratitude.
“Rise up in splendor, Jerusalem! Your light has come, the glory of the Lord shines upon you. See, darkness covers the earth, and thick clouds cover peoples; but upon you the Lord shines, and over you appears his glory” (Is 60, 1-2).
God bless you.
Fr. Arlon, osa
