Solemnity of the Epiphany of the Lord (ABC)

January 6, 2019

Readings:

First Reading: Isaiah 60: 1-6

Psalm: 72

Second Reading: Ephesians 3: 2-3a, 5-6  

Gospel reading according to Matthew 2: 1-12

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Homily:

Jesus was born at that time in the midst where the shadow of darkness and death covered the earth, as if there was no hope, no justice, and no life.  For the one who was leading and ruling the people was a tyrant, a self-serving king who protected only his interest, King Herod, who killed many people including his own family members whom he suspected to grab and to take from him his throne.  But the star of a newborn King has appeared and shown in the East seen and interpreted by the wise men called magi.  The star was shown brightly as if a new day is dawning.  A new hope, justice, and life will supplant darkness and death.  These magi hurried to see the new born king of Israel and to give him homage with gifts.  “When Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of King Herod, behold, magi from the east arrived in Jerusalem, saying, ‘Where is the newborn king of the Jews?  We saw his star at its rising and have come to do him homage’.” (Mt. 2: 1-2).  In their journey, the magi accompanied by the star passed through Jerusalem, suddenly the star disappeared when they came to King Herod’s palace to have a courtesy call and to inquire the newborn King of the Jews.  King Herod felt insulted but he did not show it.  The magi told King Herod that they saw the newborn King’s star at its rising in the East and they have come and followed it which led them to Jerusalem, but it suddenly disappeared. They would like to worship him and give their gifts as signs of their loyalty, subservience, and love (hyper dulia, highest worship). 

King Herod gave the new arrivals an extravagant welcome and rooms for them to rest their tired body from a long journey.  At the same time, he called his experts to his chamber and asked them if they knew about the birth of the King of Israel and where he will be born. “When King Herod heard this, he was greatly troubled, and all Jerusalem with him.  Assembling all the chief priests and the scribes of the people, he inquired of them where the Messiah was to be born” (Mt. 2: 3-4). The experts, the chief priests and scribes, were caught unaware.  They too were surprised of the coming of the magi with great news of the birth and the coming of a new king.  They were perplexed and at the same time went to search in their manuscripts and documents about the birth of the newborn King of Israel in their time.

When they found the answer after their long searching in the manuscripts and documents from the Book of the Prophet Micah, and after their assembly to agree on this finding, they reported at once the result to King Herod.  “They said to him, ‘In Bethlehem of Judea, for thus it has been written through the prophet: And you, Bethlehem, land of Judah are by no means least among the rulers of Judah; since from you shall come a ruler, who is to shepherd my people Israel’..” (Mt 2: 5-6).  The new King was born in Bethlehem, in the city of King David in the land of Judah. “Bethlehem, land of Judah are by no means least among the rulers of Judah; since from you shall come a ruler, who is to shepherd my people Israel” (Micah 5: 2).

After a short rest and when they were called by King Herod, the magi were asked secretly by the king the exact appearances of the star, and then they were informed about the birthplace of the newborn king. “Then Herod called the magi secretly and ascertained from them the time of the star’s appeared.  He sent them to Bethlehem and said, ‘Go and search diligently for the child.  When you have found him, bring me word, that I too may go and do him homage’.” (Mt. 2: 7-8).  King Herod allowed the wise men to look for the newborn King in Bethlehem; they can roam around the city in searching for the Babe of Bethlehem.

After receiving the whereabouts of the newborn King, after the audience with King Herod, the magi continued their searched for the new born child, destined to become King of the Jews. “After their audience with the king they set out.  And behold, the star that they had seen at its rising preceded them, until it came and stopped over the place where the child was” (Mt. 2: 9). After leaving the palace of King Herod, the star re-appeared and continued guiding until it stopped them to the place the new born child was. 

The Epiphany or the appearance of the star gave joy to the magi.  They were overwhelmed of great joy when they saw the bright star that led them to the place where the new born child was.   “They were overjoyed at seeing the star, and on entering the house they saw the child with Mary his mother” (Mt. 2: 10-11).  When the entered the house, they saw what was they looking for.  They found the child, the newborn King, the Babe of Bethlehem with His mother, Mary, and his foster-father Joseph, with some shepherds and neighbors, giving homage too to the newborn child.

They knelt down and worshiped the child.  They brought out too their gifts and offered them to their King. “They prostrated themselves and did him homage. Then, they opened their treasures and offered him gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh” (Mt. 2: 11).  The gift of gold is representing as kingship, while frankincense is representing as worship, and myrrh is representing as death and mourning.  The gifts as symbolizing three aspects of newborn King’s future life, death and resurrection:

After few days of staying and worshiping the infant Jesus, the Christ and Lord, they were planning to go back to King Herod to report the exact location of the newborn King.  But while they were sleeping on that night the angel of the Lord appeared to them in a dream.  They were warned not to go back to King Herod for he was preparing to kill them and the child.  “And having been warned in a dream not to return to Herod, they departed for their country by another way” (Mt. 2: 12). So, the magi, on that night, decided to leave the place of the newborn child and used another route in going back to their own places, to save their lives and the life of the child Jesus from the hand of the tyrant King, Herod.