Merry Christmas!
Today we celebrate an important solemnity in the form of the Epiphany. For some this is solely a celebration of three wise men or three kings who come to visit Jesus and bring Him gifts. This is true, but this is also a very profound celebration in Christendom which transcends even these magi.
The word “epiphany” comes from the Greek and means “manifestation.” What is revealed here is the manifestation of God to man. In the East the Epiphany not only accounts for the visit of the Magi, but His baptism in the Jordan, and the miracle at the wedding feast where water was changed into wine. Each of these three realities serve as God’s manifestation to us.
The magi serve as important figures because God manifested Himself unto them. They followed the light of a star which brought them into this encounter with the Messiah. In the words of Pope Benedict XVI: “it is not the star that determines the child’s destiny. It is the child that directs the star.” He goes on to state: “this implies that the entire cosmos speaks of Christ, even though its language is not yet fully intelligible to man in his present state.”
From the light of this star Christ calls the magi into an encounter with Him. With this the magi journey towards Him. The magi who were Gentile in origin then undergo their conversion. They become the first to encounter God made Flesh and be converted. For them this conversion marks a new beginning. Through them we find in the words of Benedict XVI “the journeying of humanity toward Christ.”
In our Gospel we heard these words: “they prostrated themselves and did him homage.” In the Extraordinary Form the priest genuflects at this point in the Gospel for this verse points towards their realization that this child who they have encountered is God made Flesh.
May we too journey with these Magi during this time of the Epiphany. May we encounter this same child who is God made Flesh and may we too be converted and live. From the lowliness of a manger He now manifests Himself unto the whole world as God made Flesh. From this reality may we continue to journey towards Him in how we live and orient our life.
