by Mark Escobar

Created on: December 30, 2009

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

The Epiphany[1] of the Lord

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.”

After the marathon of merriment in Christmas holidays we are now back into the swing of our routines.  Parties and other festive celebrations have already faded in the bigger picture and now they liberate us from exhaustion of preparations, fun and sleepless nights.  In January, however, we normally take the time to calm down, resume the familiar rhythms and obligations of our lives, though, we may miss those people and events for the party days gone by. 

But today the church celebrates another revelation - the feast of the Epiphany.[2]  It is one of the four revelations being represented when Jesus manifests to the whole world his glory and his kingship.  These are the Nativity or Incarnation of Christ (bringing light to the world), Epiphany (following the Light in the sky), The Baptism of Jesus (Washing away darkness) which closes the Christmas celebration of the Incarnation, and the Wedding in Cana (making a potentially dark evening a night full of joy) which is found only in John’s gospel. 

Epiphany is traditionally celebrated to mark the arrival of the Magi[3] in search of the Christ Child.  It may be Oriental in tone as they call it the feast of the Jordan but Christians of the West prefer to call it the feast of the Kings.  As a biblical story, its meaning speaks of a ‘dramatis personae’ – Jesus, the child, is being recognized as the Messiah.  At Matins of the Epiphany, Pope St Leo distinguishes these feasts with classical precision:  “He who on that day the Virgin bore, on this, the world acknowledged.”

According to some scripture scholars, the story of the wise men is the story of a great gift.  The child in the house, on the one hand, represents a present richer than any precious stones or ointments.  The child is our redemption and the gifts of the magi symbolize both Christ’s redeeming power and the price he has to pay for it.  St Gregory the Great explains that those symbolic gifts – gold, frankincense and myrrh have meanings.  Gold (Kingship) – God indeed is fitting

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