There are two definitions of Epiphany in the dictionary. The first definition is “a Christian feast commemorating the manifestation of Christ to the nations.” The second definition is “ a sudden revelation.” Both these definitions apply to Matthew’s Gospel story today.
Since Matthew wrote his gospel primary for Hebrew Christians, those who had accepted Christ as the Messiah, his intent was to show them that God’s plan of salvation would be open to anyone and everyone. The Magi who travel from the east and follow the star represent the non-Jewish world, By telling this story, Matthew shows his audience that the presence of God among us is not limited to the chosen people. God’s love is a gift to all. Matthew confirms in his story what Isaiah prophesied in the first reading today. “The wealth of nations shall be brought to you. Caravans of camels shall fill you...from Midian and Ephah...bearing gold and frankincense and proclaiming the praises of the Lord.” Fits the description of the Magi perfectly. They came bearing gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh and praised the Lord. This is the feast of the Epiphany that we celebrate. That God’s ultimate gift of love...his actual presence among us...is a gift to each and every one of us whether we choose to accept it or not. Because of this gift we can be free of the sin that holds us back and start to become that which our loving God wished for us to be in the first place. Christ coming to us is half the story. The rest of the story is our response to his presence.
Which brings us to Webster’s second definition of epiphany. Epiphany is a moment when one suddenly sees and understands something clearly. We sometimes call this an “ah-hah!” moment, as in “ah-hah, that’s how this thing works!” In other words “I can see!”
Well, the Magi had an “ah hah” moment. Magi is the Magus, which is defined as a member of the priestly order of Medes or Persia.
So these three were priests of some other order of worship, which would mean that they were intellligent and learned men of their age. Their studies and curiosity led them to follow the star. When they came to Jerusalem they asked Herod “Where is the newborn King of the Jews?” They did not say where is the Messiah, or where’s the Saviour of the World, but “the king of the Jews.” They said nothing about a Messiah.
The Magi following the star would be like us following our natural desire to find God in our lives. The Magi had a limited vision of who they looking for...the king of the Jews. When we look for God, our vision is limited as well. We have an idea of what we are looking for, but may not be very clear in our vision.
Herod’s vision of God, by the way, is completely blacked out, totally blocked by his pride, envy, jealousy and fear. He sees only a potential competitor for the very limited earthly throne while the Magi seek something greater. Herod was a victim of what Paul calls the slavery of sin, and he continued to choose that slavery when he lied to the Magi and told them, in effect, “Call me when you find him so i can honor him too.”
The Magi do find the Christ. And they had their epiphany moment. Matthew tells us this when he says they prostrated themselves before him. These were three men who were used to having people prostrate before THEM! And since they were learned men of a priestly order, they
were able to recognze whose presence they were in, through the grace of God. They had their epiphany moment in the presence of Christ. We have proof that they understood when the angel instructed them to take an alternate route home and not go back to Herod. Seeing clearly now, this is exactly what they did. They changed the course of their journey.
We have or can have our epiphany moments as well, We can clearly recognize the presence of Christ in our life in the Eucharist, through consistent prayer, through reconciliation and the way we live each day. By doing so, we live in the presence of Christ, and we have those times when we “see” him more clearly as we continue on our own pilgrim journey. The more we see him, the more we change the course of our own lives, as Paul says, in Him. As the Eucharistic prayer says, we now can live through him, in him and with him.
We are coming to the conclusion of this beautiful season of the birth of Christ, the presence of God with us, and our ability to see him and know him. The Epiphany is for all of us, in both definitions of the word. Jesus does love each of us, and wants to be in us and lead us
by another route, a route away from sin and death to the eternal life that is ours because God has entered into our life. The Gift of the Magi is our response of love and living in Christ. The Gift of Christ is the eternal life of love that comes from being in him.
