Feast of the Epiphany

The Feast of the Epiphany celebrates the manifestation of Jesus. Reading and reflecting on the Gospel passage of Matthew 2:1-12, we see contrasting searches between the Magi and Herod. The Magi search for the newborn King and offer gifts in adoration, while Herod searches for a threat to his power. We are encouraged to open ourselves to the Word and meditate on how it speaks to us personally. We are invited to adore Jesus, offer our lives to Him, and have a heart full of love and adoration for Him. We are encouraged to continue reflecting on the Gospel story and have a conversation with Jesus about its impact on us. Greetings, friends. What a joy to share the Gospel. On the Feast of the Epiphany, we reach the culmination of our celebration of the mystery of Christmas. That word epiphany comes from the Greek and means manifestation or appearance. We pray with the sacred scriptures because we know that Jesus manifests himself through the spiritual reading of the word. Let's prepare ourselves intentionally by opening our hearts, our spirits. We take a moment to quiet ourselves. If you will, take a deep breath slowly in and slowly out. Come, Lord Jesus. Allow your Holy Spirit to bring your word to life in me. May I hear your voice, Good Shepherd. The first step of the ancient prayer of Lectio Divina is simply to read the passage. We read to become familiar with the narrative and to begin to open ourselves to the movement of the Holy Spirit carried on the words of the Gospel. On this Feast of the Epiphany of the Lord, we read from Matthew's Gospel, Chapter 2, verses 1 through 12. When Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of King Herod, behold, Magi from the east arrived in Jerusalem, saying, Where is the newborn King of the Jews? We saw his star at its rising, and have come to do him homage. When King Herod heard this, he was greatly troubled, and all Jerusalem with him. Assembling all the chief priests and the scribes of the people, he inquired of them where the Messiah was to be born. They said to him, In Bethlehem of Judea, for thus it has been written through the prophet, And you, Bethlehem, land of Judah, are by no means least among the rulers of Judah, since from you shall come a ruler who is to shepherd my people Israel. Then Herod called the Magi secretly and ascertained from them the time of the star's appearance. He sent them to Bethlehem and said, Go and search diligently for the child. When you have found him, bring me word that I too may go and do him homage. After their audience with the king they set out, and behold, the star that they had seen at its rising preceded them until it came and stopped over the place where the child was. They were overjoyed at seeing the star, and on entering the house they saw the child with Mary his mother. They prostrated themselves and did him homage. Then they opened their treasures and offered him gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh. And having been warned in a dream not to return to Herod, they departed for their country by another way. This passage we just shared is so incredibly rich, don't you think, and certainly multivalent. The theme of searching runs through the whole of it, but notice there are contrasting searches. The magi, these eastern philosophers and astrologers, are searching for a happening of wonderful meaning, the birth of a king. Herod searches, pursues really, a threat to his power, his self-dominion. There are too the gifts bestowed on Jesus by the magi which have captured people's imagination throughout the ages. Again in contrast, Herod seeks instead not certainly to give, but to take life itself. Notice the magi search and pursue and follow astronomical signs, and most likely pagan beliefs concerning the movement of stars. In doing so they arrive, both physically and spiritually, at a place of adoration of the newborn Son of God. Herod, he rather, appeals to the religious leaders and theologians of the God of Israel, searches divinely inspired scriptures, and yet does not discover physically or spiritually the true God. God has given us the light of revelation. God still often uses other lights to guide people's hearts and minds to Him, while the light of His revelation, mysteriously for sure, leaves many still in the dark. Turning to read the Gospel a second time, we do, like the magi, searching for the newborn King. Might we see Him, hear His voice, touch Him in adoration and love? Be sensitive, my friends, as the passage is read, to how it speaks to you personally. Become aware of a word or phrase or image that rises before you like that star, as the Gospel is proclaimed. Once again, we open ourselves to the Word as we read Matthew chapter 2, verses 1-12. When Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea, in the days of King Herod, behold, magi from the east arrived in Jerusalem, saying, Where is the newborn King of the Jews? We saw his star at its rising, and have come to do him homage. When King Herod heard this, he was greatly troubled, and all Jerusalem with him. Assembling all the chief priests and the scribes of the people, he inquired of them where the Messiah was to be born. They said to him, In Bethlehem of Judea, for thus it has been written through the prophet, And you, Bethlehem, land of Judah, are by no means least among the rulers of Judah, since from you shall come a ruler who is to shepherd my people Israel. Then Herod called the magi secretly and ascertained from them the time of the star's appearance. He sent them to Bethlehem and said, Go and search diligently for the child. When you have found him, bring me word that I too may go and do him homage. After their audience with the king they set out, and behold, the star that they had seen at its rising preceded them until it came and stopped over the place where the child was. They were overjoyed at seeing the star, and on entering the house they saw the child with Mary his mother. They prostrated themselves and did him homage. Then they opened their treasures and offered him gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh. And having been warned in a dream not to return to Herod, they departed for their country by another way. And now we come to the second step of Lectio Divina, praying with the gospel, and that is meditation. In meditating on the word, we pause to ponder and reflect on what has stood out to us, that single word, phrase, or image from the gospel that speaks most powerfully to us. What is speaking to you? Is there a light in this gospel that goes out before you, leading you toward Christ? My own heart is stirred by the single word, adoration. The Magi come with a desire to adore the newborn king. They prostrate themselves, do him homage, and they give him gifts. I reflect on these actions. What does prostrating homage look like in my life? How do I express my adoration to Jesus? And what gift do I bring to Jesus? The gift certainly of my life, but what single gift might represent best my life given to the Lord? Lord Jesus Christ, fill me with the wonder and awe of the Magi. Give me a heart of love for you, full of adoration for you as my king, my Lord. May I approach you not to take from you, but to lay my life down before you, to give you my love, my affection, my time and energy, my hopes and dreams, and yes, too, my fears and sins. Jesus, you are my king and my Lord. Friends, let me invite you again to continue to sit with this wonderful gospel story. How is it stirring within you, leading you perhaps on a journey of the heart? Talk to Jesus about what his word is doing in you now. Before leaving prayer, be sure to intentionally place the word you have received deep in your spirit where the Lord might bring it growth throughout the day. And friends, it is a joy to share the gospel with you.