It is the Octave of Christmas and the Church celebrates today the Epiphany of the Lord. The word “Epiphany” comes from a Greek root, which could be rendered as ‘manifestation,’ ‘to reveal,’ ‘to unveil.’ It is the revelation of Jesus Christ as the light to the nations. When scripture speaks of nations, it refers to the whole world apart from the Jewish nation. This includes everyone else who is outside of the original promise made to Abraham and his descendants. That includes you and me. Isaiah beckons Jerusalem to rise in splendor for her light, which the glory of the Lord, shines upon her. This light dispels the darkness that covers the earth and provides light for nations and kings who would embark on a pilgrimage to Jerusalem bearing gifts of gold and frankincense. It has been argued that this reference to kings in the First reading serves as the Old Testament ground for the popular identification of the Magi from the East as kings. Although the Gospel does not mention that they are kings, this tradition seems to be popular. Recall the Christmas song “We Three Kings From Orient Are…”
In the East, Epiphany primarily commemorates the baptism of the Lord, whereas the West celebrates the visit of the Magi. This explains why our focus today is on the Magi and the homage they did the new born king of the Jews. We commemorate the showing of the christ-child as king not only of Israel but of the whole world. The Messiah, though promised to the Jews, is not exclusive to the Jews. He has come not to save some but all. Therefore, he is the Messiah of both Jews and Gentiles alike. This understanding is important for us in thinking about the universal import of the Messiah’s birth and of his redemptive suffering, death and resurrection. Jesus is Lord, not for the Jews only but for the Gentiles as well. As St. Paul attests, through the preaching of the gospel, the Gentiles have become coheirs and copartners in the promise in Christ Jesus. This is good news! In Jesus, we who had been separated from the promise on account of our transgressions have become inheritors of salvation and can fully participate in the new life won for us by Christ.
There are a number of scholarly interpretations of the gesture of bringing gifts to the new born, and the significance of the individual gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh. You might have heard about how these gifts speak to Jesus’ Kingship, Divinity and his Death. I like to wonder if the idea of traveling kings coming from a distance to pay him homage doesn’t suggest that he ranks above them, and is deserving of the homage they paid him. Whatever the case might be, today the Solemnity of the Epiphany affords us the opportunity to see Jesus as our King as well. Like the Magi let us come to him bearing gifts, not of gold, or frankincense or myrrh, but the gift of ourselves without reservation. The Lord needs the gift of your heart, of your life, of all you possess. Will you oblige him?
“O Come Let us Adore Him, O Come Let us Adore Him, O Come Let us Adore Him, Christ the Lord!”