FEAST OF THE EPIPHANY OF THE LORD (2024)
Readings:
Isaiah 60:1-6
Psalms 72:1-2, 7-8, 10-13
Ephesians 3:2-3, 5-6
Matthew 2:1-12
The Feast of the Epiphany of the Lord effectively ends the liturgical Christmas season, although it always actually ends with the Feast of the Baptism of the Lord, which this year will be celebrated on Monday. The feast highlights the great contribution of Matthew’s lean infancy narrative which no respectable manger could be without – the arrival of kings (could be more than three) from the East. The story, which exudes such charm, has wealthy kings reading the signs of the heavens to determine where the “newborn king of the Jews” can be found. The story, also, has some considerable intrigue, as the loathsome character of Herod is involved, who is understandably worried about the mention of another “king.” When the kings stand Herod up, he will also solve what he thinks is a problem by brutally massacring all boys, two years old and under, something completely opposite the ‘charm’ he tried to show the kings in order to secure their help.
The looming figure of Herod could almost obscure the real importance of the story, for the word ’Epiphany’ means ‘manifestation.’ From the very beginning, Matthew is making it clear that Jesus is being manifested to shepherds and Gentile kings, something more than curious from an evangelist who is writing for a Jewish audience. Perhaps because of his sources, Matthew proclaims the truth that is proclaimed in our second reading: “the Gentiles are coheirs, members of the same body, and copartners in the promise in Christ Jesus through the gospel.” The kings, however many there might have been (we say three only because of the number of the gifts; but as we know with any party there are always those who bring nothing), are the fulfillment of all the prophets have written (see first reading Isaiah and psalm). God’s plan was intended for all peoples – no one is meant to be excluded from God’s generous love and His desire for all people’s salvation, and this is no better shown than through the motley group of shepherds and kings that gathered that first Christmas night.
Our story also makes clear the challenges that Jesus, and the spread of His gospel, will encounter throughout Jesus’ short time on earth. No room at the inn, the conniving of Herod, the flight into Egypt, the massacre of the innocents, all hint at the kind of difficulty this adorable baby will encounter. Herod is almost a bookend, appearing at the beginning of Matthew’s gospel, and at the end of Luke’s gospel, just before the crucifixion. The lavish gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh, don’t obscure the great difficulties Jesus will encounter.
For us the kings are signs and symbols of the persistence that should characterize every person’s desire to find Jesus. While our search for Jesus will not be marked by the travel of long distances or courtly intrigue, we, nevertheless, have to sometimes work very hard to see Jesus in the world in which we live. We generally do not have any difficulty finding Jesus in our friends and families, but it is obvious by the way we demonize others, that finding Jesus in our political enemies, in the poor and disenfranchised who we convince ourselves that they are the makers of their own situation, in the migrants and those seeking asylum, in selfish dictators and potentates, in those who take advantage of the sick and people in need, in the people of Gaza, Ukraine, Russia, Sudan, Yemen and Iran. If we were given the privilege of a star to lead us, where might it take us?
Our finding of Jesus in the people who live in the world about us, will never be easy, but we cannot give up the battle or count the cost. Finding Jesus in others is its own reward – a glimpse of the divine. Shepherds are just as important as kings, and so we should never be confused by the packaging. God lives in all those that He has created, and, no matter the difficulty, we should not tire of searching for that glimpse of the divine.
parishionersforjustice.com 