Sunday 7th January 2024 - The Epiphany

Isaiah 60:1-6/ Psalm 71(72)/ Ephesians 3:2-3,5-6/ Matthew 2:1-12

They were not Kings and there may not have been three of them. The Gospel passage today simply says, ‘some wise men came from the east’. We probably get the three from the three gifts of Gold, Frankincense, and Myrrh. In some traditions we are given three names, Caspar, Melchior, and Balthasar, but this does not appear in our scriptures, and we have no way of knowing the finer details of this account.

Our crib scenes suggest that the wise men came to the stable at Bethlehem but again scripture is not clear about this. Matthew tells us that the wise men set out for Bethlehem because that was where the Messiah was to be born but we are only told that they were led to where the child was and that they went into the house not a stable. This may have been some considerable time after the birth of Jesus. The wise men had travelled a long distance, and it would have taken days, weeks or even months for them to get there.

These details are not as important as the deeper meaning of the visit of these wise men from the east. They are clearly people from outside of the Jewish tradition who seek God and know of the prophesies about the promised Messiah. They are termed as wise because they have clearly studied ancient scripture which has drawn them into the anticipation also felt by the chosen people of Israel. The celebration today, The Epiphany, means a manifestation, a revealing, in this case the manifestation of Christ to the world as well as the Jewish people. The outside world represented by the wise men from the east. It is a moment of great revelation or understanding.

Jesus is not just the Messiah for the chosen people of Israel but the Saviour of all people. The wise men represent the wider world and those who seek God with sincere hearts but are beyond the Jewish tradition. The first reading from Isaiah tells of Jerusalem looking out over its own people but also foretells the coming of people from all parts of the world. The second reading has Paul explaining a great mystery revealed both to the Jews and Gentiles. We can remain stubborn and refuse to acknowledge the coming of Christ or we can move forward towards his light and seek God who was born into the world.

We are called to look for the Messiah, to seek Jesus, by following the promises made in scripture and by seeking the light of his star. This light is the light of Christ, the light spoken about on Christmas morning in John’s gospel. ‘a light that shines in the dark, a light that darkness could not overpower… The Word was the true light that enlightens all men;’ This is the light of Christ that we must keep our eyes fixed on and follow. The wise men teach us to read scripture and believe that it is the Word of God. To seek for Jesus wherever his light leads us. To acknowledge the importance to us and the world of the gift of Jesus, God who became human. To kneel in front of Jesus acknowledging him as God and to present our whole life to him. To obey God first rather than earthly bound authority that seeks only its own gratification and power. This way of life might make us look foolish in the eyes of the world, but being truly wise men and women we continue to seek Christ.

For us it will be a lifelong journey, but it will lead us to Christ. One day we will enter the presence of Christ, we will fall on our knees, and we also will ‘do him homage’.

God Bless Brendan.