GLORY REVEALED.

January 7, 2024.
The Epiphany of the Lord – B.

Readings: Is 60:1-6; Ps 72:1-2, 7-8, 10-11, 12-13; Eph3:2-3a, 5-6; Mt 2:1-12.

“We saw his star at its rising and have come to do him homage.” (Mt 2:2)

An Afghan proverb says: “Glory is fitting to God alone.” An Ivorian proverb adds: “God conceals himself from the mind of man, but reveals himself to his heart.”

Today is the feast of glory. It is the feast of light. Jesus' Glory is revealed to all nations. The Lord shines as the light of the star that guides all people. He is the light that breaks into the darkness of this world and leads all people to God.

Today, two weeks after the solemn celebration of his Nativity, the Lord is revealed to all the Nations, and the three wise men stand as our representatives. From North, West, and South, they all come running to the East to contemplate God's glory and pay tribute to the newborn king.

The word Epiphany itself is meaningful, a manifestation of a divine or supernatural being. An appearance because God the Most High appears today in our humanity. He reveals himself to us in the person of the child born in Bethlehem of Judah. Tradition holds that, soon after the birth of Jesus, three wise men came from distant lands paid him homage, and made special offerings to him.

Here is what the Catechism says: "The Epiphany is the manifestation of Jesus as Messiah of Israel, Son of God and Savior of the world. The great feast of Epiphany celebrates the adoration of Jesus by the wise men (magi) from the East, together with his baptism in the Jordan and the wedding feast at Cana in Galilee. In the magi, representatives of the neighboring pagan religions, the Gospel sees the first fruits of the nations, who welcome the good news of salvation through the Incarnation. The magi's coming to Jerusalem in order to pay homage to the king of the Jews shows that they seek in Israel, in the messianic light of the star of David, the one who will be king of the nations. Their coming means that pagans can discover Jesus and worship him as Son of God and Savior of the world only by turning towards the Jews and receiving from them the messianic promise as contained in the Old Testament. The Epiphany shows that "the full number of the nations" now takes its "place in the family of the patriarchs", and acquires Israelitica dignitas (is made "worthy of the heritage of Israel")." CCC 528.

The readings, mostly, the first reading and the Gospel, are all about light and revelation. Isaiah, in the first reading, speaks of the glory of God shining upon Israel, his people, and Jerusalem his land. While the other parts of the earth and the other nations are covered with darkness, Jerusalem is brought to shine like a lighthouse attracting all the nations to her. Therefore, the Prophet says, "Nations shall walk by your light, and kings by your shining radiance." And they will bring offerings: "All from Sheba shall come bearing gold and frankincense, and proclaiming the praises of the Lord."

This prophetic vision of Isaiah will find its completion in the visit of the Magi to the Newborn Child of Bethlehem. Like a lighthouse, his star shined and led the wise men from the East to Jerusalem and from Jerusalem to Bethlehem. And once they arrived, saw the child, and paid him homage, Luke said, "They opened their treasures and offered him gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh," just as foreseen by Isaiah, only with one additional gift, the myrrh, another prophetic offering that announced the mission and destiny of the child. He will have to die for the salvation of all.

I like the image of the lighthouse. A lighthouse is a tower, building, or other type of physical structure designed to emit light from a system of lamps and lenses and to serve as a beacon for navigational aid, for maritime pilots at sea or on inland waterways. For us Christians, Jesus stands as the true and unique lighthouse. He reveals us God and leads us to him. He came so that, in him and through him, we might have life. Just as his star led the steps of the Magi, so too, his message, his Gospel leads us to the fount of life. In him, there is no distinction or discrimination between Jews and Gentiles or Pagans. All are called to walk into his light and be saved. In him, we all are made coheirs of God's promises.

The message of the Epiphany is that of the universality of salvation. God came in his Son so that all might be saved. Some people, however, will not accept this good news of salvation. There will always be some Herods who set their personal interests above all. And so, they will not only feel disturbed but will also try to extinguish the light before it shines brighter.

We are somewhat at the climax of Christmas festivities. This feast of the Epiphany is to help us gain a new understanding of God’s redemptive work. Its message could be about the unimaginable grace that God extends to us. All are called to salvation. No one must be excluded. The only way to enter into it is to adopt the attitude of the Magi, worship. They recognized that Jesus was the King and because of that they worshiped him. We in turn must do the same. When God reveals to us something that we were not aware of before, we need to respond in adoration and worship. We should not imitate Herod, that is, close ourselves to our petty interests and ego.