Epiphany

 

Today is the Solemnity of the Epiphany. We know from Sacred Scripture there were three wise men, who followed the star in order to find, Jesus, the newborn King in Bethlehem, with Mary and Joseph.

Balthasar was from Ethiopia in Africa. He brought myrrh. A bitter perfume used in burial practices of Jews. It symbolizes the death of Jesus, and His body being anointed with myrrh for burial. Melchior, was from Persia, which is modern day, Iran. He brought Frankincense, which comes from aromatic oil, used by Jews to offer sacrifice. It is a symbol of prayer and sacrifice. Casper was from Tarsus. He was European, whose gift was gold. Gold is for a king, and symbolizes the Divinity of the Child Jesus, the newborn King. It is believed all three, although from different countries, providentially met on their journey to Bethlehem.

The wise men were not Jews, they were Gentiles, just as we are Gentiles. It is interesting God revealed the birth of the “newborn king of the Jews” to men who were not Jews. We might have expected God to reveal the birth of Jesus to his own Jewish people, but no, it was to people of a different religion and race God revealed the birth of Jesus. As our opening prayer today states, “Father, you revealed your Son to the nations by the guidance of a star.”

Because Jesus came to save the whole world and not just his own Jewish Chosen People, God in his mercy chose to reveal the birth of Jesus “to the nations” for the salvation of the whole world.

In our Psalm today, we may see as a prophecy of Jesus, describes the whole world adoring God, “Lord, every nation on earth will adore you.” It refers to kings all over the world offering gifts and the Lord’s kingdom stretching from sea to sea, covering the whole world.

Something to consider is that the Magi and also the shepherds prostrated themselves before the Divine Infant. The Child Jesus, would have looked like any other child, but the shepherds came to know through the angels, Jesus is the Messiah and Savior. Likewise, the magi also came to know Jesus is King and is God, which is why they bowed down and worshiped Him.

After the Magi left, Herod sought to kill the baby Jesus sending soldiers to kill all boys 2 yrs and younger in Bethlehem, which was about 30 children, who died. And, the Magi knelt before a Child, who is God and adored Him as a baby. So, we have men came to adore a baby, while other men came to kill babies.

It would have taken faith on the part of the shepherds and the magi, to give homage to Jesus, the newborn King. They sacrificed leaving their kingdoms. They sacrificed giving their earthly treasures, because their faith guided them to worship God, as a baby.

Today, the bodies of the three wise men are buried in the Cathedral of Cologne, Germany and they are considered saints.

We should ask them to help us to look up in the heavens, not for a physical star, but a spiritual star. A star that will guide us to adore Jesus. What is that spiritual star? But our faith. Our faith guides us to Jesus.

And it takes faith to believe Jesus, who is God, is really and truly present in the Eucharist. Though He appears to be bread, we believe the Sacred Host is really Jesus. That is why we adore the Eucharist. At Mass we kneel before the altar because we believe God Himself becomes present on the altar. When the Host is elevated above the altar, we gaze in adoration of Jesus in the Eucharist. This is also why we genuflect when we come inside the church and when we leave church, because almighty God is truly present in the tabernacle. This is also why we bow our heads or make the sign of the Cross and some who kneel before receiving Holy Communion. These are signs of adoration and worship of God.

For those who come to adore Jesus in the Adoration, each person kneels before Jesus in Eucharistic Adoration. To adore means to gaze upon someone with love and that someone is Jesus.

Jesus came for everyone and He wants to have a personal relationship with each of us. That personal relationship is seen most clearly, when we receive Jesus in Holy Communion and pour out our hearts to Him, who loves us with an everlasting love. God is personal. God is here. God is intimate when He comes inside us and unites Himself to us in a union of love. After Jesus comes inside our heart in Holy Communion, we should speak to Him as our best friend. Thank Him for coming within us. Ask Him for help with regard to our own needs and the needs of others. Tell Him we love Him and invite Him to be with us throughout the day.

Our Lord longs for us to acknowledge Him as God, and speak Him as a friend. When you come to church kneel down and look at the tabernacle and talk to Jesus, because He is really there. Say these words to Him, “My God I love thee. I adore You O God, My King.”

At every Mass give yourself to Jesus with the bread and wine offered on the altar. We don’t have gold, frankincense and myrrh, but we have all our sufferings, sacrifices, joys, works and our total self and our heart to give to Jesus as a gift. May the Blessed Virgin Mary, who was the first to adore Her infant Son, help us to grow in love and friendship with Jesus, who is Christ the Lord, our Savior, and the King of heaven and earth.