Cycle A   Epiphany of the Lord

Where Is the New Born King?

Isaiah 60: 1-6
Jerusalem is favored by the Lord

Psalm 72
The Lord will bless all nations and all will adore Him

Ephesians 3: 2-3a, 5-6
The Gentiles are also favored and share in the Good News with the Jews

Matthew 2: 1-12
Wise men - magi - follow a star and find the Christ

Today the Christmas story continues with the celebration of the Epiphany, sometimes referred to as the feast of the "Three Kings" or "Little Christmas." Why call it "Little Christmas?"

The message of Christmas is all about the promised messiah. This promise was made to the nation of Israel, to the Jews. The prophecy of Isaiah is fulfilled the Messiah, Jesus (Yahweh saves), is Emanuel (God with us). He is the descendant of King David and is the Son of God. The readings for "Little Christmas", the Epiphany, are about this same Messiah being Emanuel (God with us) for the Gentile nations as well.

Isaiah says that Jerusalem, Israel's capitol, is favored by God and will become the light to all the nations. Jerusalem, Israel, will be the light that reveals the savior, the promised Messiah. In his letter to the Ephesians Saint Paul announces that all the Gentile nations are just as favored as Israel. Jesus is not only the Jewish Messiah; He is the savior of all people. Psalm 72, our responsorial psalm today, repeats this announcement in its response : "Lord, every nation on earth will adore you." Matthew tells all this in his story about the visiting magi and the star.

First, a bit about the symbols Matthew uses. The magi represent the Gentile Nations, foreigners to the Jewish Nation. They come bearing expensive gifts fit for kings. This helps give them their later popular identity as kings. The child, Jesus, is the future leader of the Jewish nation, the promised Messiah, Emanuel (God with us). The appearance of a new star was identified at the time with the birth of a future leader. Herod represents the Jewish nation of Israel.

In Matthew's story the magi follow a new star to find a new leader or future king. They come to Herod who has the benefit of all the Hebrew Scriptures to guide him. Herod is afraid of losing power so he turns them away.

The magi, these foreigners, these astrologers, follow a heavenly body, the star, and move on in faith to Bethlehem. There the star stops over the place where Christ is. The star stops to honor a child. The star stops over the place where God lives on earth.

The star of Bethlehem stops and stands still over each one of us too - because we are the place where God lives on earth. All of us - every one of us - every living person is the place where God lives on earth.

Have you heard the story of the man who sees a drunk lying in the street? A man, just like you and me, comes upon a drunk lying in the street. The drunk is all dirty and covered with his own vomit. He's unconscious and completely helpless and hopeless. The somewhat compassionate man looks up to heaven and says: "O God, look at this man. Don't you know? Don't you care about him? Why don't you do something about this?" God answers: "I do know and I do care and I am doing something about it - I've just called him to your attention."

God is at work in you. God wants to be at work in you. What about the person you know? Or the person you will meet today or tomorrow who needs you? Needs your time, needs your help.

Who is the person God is calling to your attention? Is it a spouse - a grown son or daughter - a brother or sister - a family member - a parent - a former friend - a clerk in a store - a street person - someone you are on the outs with?

Why don't you reach out to them - is it a fear of losing power - of being humble? Is it the fear of losing the power of withholding forgiveness?

See, the star is standing still above that person too. If you can remember to see the star, God will work in and through you. God will live in you. God will save the world through you. God will love His people through you. That's the way God chooses to do it and He calls you to bring His love to all people.

In a little while you will leave church today to return to your everyday lives, like the magi in Matthew's story, you can return to your everyday lives by another way - by God's way. You are strengthened by God's word and by the sacrament of the Eucharist. Like the nation of Israel, you are chosen by God.

You have the choice of remaining apart like Herod did - and you have the choice of moving forward in faith like the magi. God asks you to bring His love to all people, even those you don't like. But you are free, the choice is yours. God waits for your answer.

Think about it and pray about it.

 

NOTE:
To read the Sunday readings on line for the The Feast of the Epiphany click on the following link - or copy it to your browser's address bar.

http://www.usccb.org/nab/010608.shtml

To listen to the readings on line go to the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops' podcast.  To get there click the following link - or copy it to your browser's address bar. You will need to scroll down on the right side of the window to find the correct date.

http://www.podcastalley.com/player/player.php?pod_id=43329