SUNDAY JANUARY 7, 2024
SOLEMNITY OF THE EPIPHANY
Isaiah 60:1-6
Ephesians 3:2-3.5-6
Matthews 2:1-12
THE UNIVERSAL MISSION OF CHRIST AND OUR RESPONSE.
The solemnity of the EPIPHANY celebrates Jesus as the universal King and Messiah of all nations on earth. It goes on to describe the kind of messiah Jesus is. A messiah that is light to darkness, a messiah that will give up his life for the salvation of the people. A messiah that comes to bring to an end the domination of evil and to engender in the world a kingdom of Justice and Peace.
This feast predates that of Christmas. It was celebrated in the Eastern churches before the advent of the feast of Christmas. Now, the church celebrates this feast in honour to outline the universal nature of the mission of Christ which transcends the Jewish circle, depicted in the gospel narrative of the visit of the Magi from the east.
For in the gospel of today, we find the magi or wisemen from the east searching for the infant King born into the world and witnessed by the stars. The magi were more like astronomers who came from the east. They recognized and followed the star that announces for them the birth of a universal king. Although, the star which was leading them, at a time disappeared and they strayed into the home of Herod who had no idea of the birth of this King. For they had thought that Herod would have an idea or that Jesus would have come from the royal family. But no!!!
Such unusual visit of the Magi to Herod and the announcement of the birth of a king as the prophets foresaw it before now was confirmed but never accepted by Herod for fear that his kingdom may not be taken over and destroyed. So Herod’s reaction to the Magi’s visit was first highly informative to him and he played a deceptive one too, when he told them to bring him words when they find the king. But inwardly, Herod sought to kill and destroy the infant child.
The announcement of the King to Herod represents those whose hearts are troubled, anxious and enimical to the values, teachings and coming of Christ into the world. The end result is usually to strangulate and annihilate the infant child at all cost.
The magi discovered that the star that directs them to Jesus rose again and took them straight to where the infant Jesus lay with the mother and father. The magi symbolise the acceptance of Jesus as their king and the King of the universe. Their frantic search for Jesus gives testimony of their acceptance and acknowledgment of Christ. And most importantly their offering of gifts sealed their intention as having accepted and given consent to the supremacy of the person and mission of Christ to the world.
Here, they offered him gifts of gold, frankincense and Myrrh. Their gift has great symbolic meanings: Gold for the king, and recognising Jesus as the King of the universe. Frankincense for the purpose of worship, as incense is used for purification of air and keeping of the atmosphere of worship, clean and quiet. And myrrh used for the preservation of the body, and killing of intestinal worms, a symbol of the death that Jesus is meant to die for the people.
The manifestation of Jesus to the world demands a reciprocal acceptance and welcoming. To the Magi, it was a welcomed event and it is shown in their gifts but to Herod, it was hostility, enmity and strife.
What is our reaction to the coming of Jesus into the world as our saviour and our God? Are we like Herod or the Magi? Are we hostile or welcoming? Have I discovered the person of a Jesus or just jettison him?
While we meditate on these, we must also realise that Jesus comes and no one has the power to disregard or discredit him. His mission is final and for our good. Our first reading from the prophecy of Isaiah details the mission of Christ Jesus. First he came as the revelation of God to accomplish our salvation. Isaiah points to the darkness that has enveloped the world and upholds that Christ’s coming was purposely to dispel the darkness of our existence and to bring about our salvation and to immersed us into the light. We are to be redeemed from the darkness of error and sins, to be brought into the marvelous light of righteousness and blessings is the mission of Christ.
Continuing same theme, Saint Paul in the second reading restates that Christ Jesus has called him as his steward for the mission to the Gentile world. Christ is not just for the Jews alone but for all peoples of all race, nations and colour. And he has been particularly commission for mission to the Gentiles himself.
It is to our advantage that we welcome, live and abide in him.
The testimony of Saint Paul who turned from radical Judaism to a Liberal Christian should teach us never to hold tenaciously to our one sided belief. We need to know that God can manifest himself in a unique way and the need to be open minded, never to condemn, never to criticise others and never to neglect others. Rather, we are called to share our faith, be accommodating to others and welcoming to others.
Christ is the universal King of kings and holding this faith will enable us gain life in fulness. Yet we have to be missionaries of love and humility to our world.
God our Father, your son manifested himself in a sublime way, making himself known to the entire world. May we be enabled to be guided to know Jesus, the truth, to love him, live and abide in him. May the darkness of error never becloud our way, knowledge and courageous in following Jesus to the end through the same Christ our Lord.
Fr Norbert Uchuno
