The Epiphany of the Lord
Today the Magi gaze in deep wonder at what they see: heaven on earth, earth in heaven, man in God, God in man, one whom the whole universe cannot contain now enclosed in a tiny body. As they look, they believe and do not question, as their symbolic gifts bear witness: incense for God, gold for a king, myrrh for one who is to die said Saint Peter Chrysologus. Today is the Solemnity of the Epiphany of our Lord Jesus Christ. This Solemnity celebrates the revelation of God in His Son as human in Jesus Christ. This feast also commemorates the visit of the Magi to the Christ child, and thus Jesus' physical manifestation to the Gentiles.
The word Epiphany comes from the Greek word “epiphaneia,” which means “appearance” or “manifestation,” and refers to the manifestation of God in the baby Jesus and revealing Himself to the world. This Solemnity is also known as Theophany, or Three Kings' Day. As we heard in today’s gospel reading, the three wise men or kings or magi – Caspar, Melchior, and Balthazar – were the first people outside of the stable to come and pay homage to Jesus. These magi brought three gifts to Jesus:
- Gold — a symbol of wealth and power, which identifies the recipient as a king.
- Frankincense — the crystalized resinous sap of a tree used as incense and as an offering, which is symbolic of prayer.
- Myrrh — another resinous tree sap, was used in healing liniments and as an embalming ointment. Myrrh is an odd gift for a child—so, even at the beginning of Jesus' life on earth, this gift foreshadows his destiny and death.
So what exactly does today’s Solemnity teach us? Firstly, it teaches us the importance of trusting in God as the Magi did when they took the risk of following the star to Bethlehem, while trusting that God will lead them to something far more greater than they could know. This example of trusting in God as shown us by the magi, is a very powerful example and message for us on how we can best live our lives as children of God. We are called to always trust in God no matter the situation or circumstances we find ourselves facing because He knows what is best for us and would never betray us or let us down, as He leads us to where we need to be.
Secondly, today’s Solemnity calls on us to pay homage and worship the Lord, the Light of the world, just like the magi did. It is an invitation to all Christians around the world to truly and sincerely follow Christ as it urges us to go to our Lord to adore and worship Him as it emphasizes God’s physical presence on Earth through His Son, our Lord Jesus Christ.
So my brothers and sisters in Christ, it is time as stated by Prophet Isaiah in today’s First Reading to rise up in splendor, because our light (Jesus Christ) has come, and His glory has shone upon us. Hence, let us go out into the world and manifest our Lord to all in our thoughts, words and actions by totally trusting in God and constantly worshiping Him.
