The Feast of the Epiphany commemorates the revelation of Jesus, the Son of God, to the world. The word “epiphany” comes from the Greek epiphainen, which means “to manifest,” “appear,” or “make known.” The Epiphany of the Lord is commemorated with the visit of the wise men (magi) who travelled from the East to Bethlehem in Jerusalem to worship the baby Jesus in the Manger. This story is narrated in the Gospel of today from Matthew Mt 2:1-12. Some aspects of the reading are important for us due to their role in exposing the meaning of the feast of today and its implication for our faith.
The Manifestation of our Lord to the World
The Epiphany is the manifestation of the threefold mission of Jesus as King, Son of God, and Savior of the world. His revelation as a Messiah King is acclaimed in the gospel: “Behold, magi from the east arrived in Jerusalem, saying, ‘Where is the new-born king of the Jews? We saw his star at its rising and have come to do him homage.’” By this visit and homage by the Magi from the East, Jesus is revealed as Messiah, Son of God and Savior of Israel who will lead the people in justice and fairness. Upon reaching Bethlehem, the magi were overjoyed at seeing the child with Mary his mother. And on entering the house, they prostrated themselves and did him homage. This is a divine worship of Son of God whose mission will bring salvation to those who believe in him. We also recall the words of Simeon to Mary at the circumcision of Jesus in the Temple—he will be a light to the nations.
Jesus King and the Savior of the World
The visit of the magi has also an ecumenical import. In the magi, the Church sees the first fruits of the nations, who welcome the good news of salvation. Jesus is the savior of the world. His message is for the whole human race and the salvation he brought to the world is a message of God’s love and compassion for every individual. He comes not just for one group of people but for all. The magi, from the East, stand in for all the peoples of the earth. They represent all the people, including ourselves, who have found their way to Christ, who have found in him the meaning of their lives, and the light which guides them. They also represent the inner hope of the human spirit showing that it strives for the meaning that Jesus brings to life.
The Gifts at the Epiphany
The magi presented the baby Jesus with the gift of Frankincense, Gold, and Myrrh. Frankincense was often used in divine worship. It becomes, then, an apt symbol of Christ’s offering as the eternal priest. The sacrifice offered by priests both in the Old Testament and New Testament offering of Jesus is geared towards healing and wholeness. By his own life Jesus offers eternal sacrifice to God on our behalf. Gold is seen, in many cultures, as a gift for kings, or denoting kingship. Psalm 72 connects the offering of gold to the king’s mission to bring about justice for the people. The gift of mercy and justice is inseparable from Christ’s role as king. Myrrh, a costly perfume used among other reasons, in preparing the body of great kings for their burial, represents the divinity of Christ whose body will not decay. It also points to our own divinity and immortality by virtue of our belief that we are co-heirs with Christ.
The magi also present us gifts for our own vocation as Christians. Their search for the newborn Jesus shows us that we will often find God in places and in people where we are not expecting him. They recognized his star and followed its direction. The challenge of our lives is to see the ways God shows himself to us. But we must be attentive to the signs He gives us in our lives in order to recognize our own guiding star to the savior.
