The Epiphany of the Lord

Today's Mass Readings

The story of salvation history is a story of adventure, of people on a journey. Abram is called away from his homeland to go to a land God would show him. Moses is to lead his people out of Egypt, Jesus’ disciples are sent out two by two. When we seek God, we set out on a type of journey. We could even say that God created the world in a way that it would be “in a state of journeying,” where all people journey, making decisions that lead one closer, or further away from, God our Creator.

On this solemnity of the Epiphany of the Lord, the antiphon for Evening Prayer indicates that we celebrate three great mysteries: The Adoration of the Magi, Water is changed into wine at the wedding feast, and The Lord is baptized by John—all of which point toward the manifestation of God’s presence in Christ to all the nations. This is a feast of light and a celebration of Christ’s coming among us. But I think we can also see this day as a chance to reflect on our own “Drawing closer to the Lord.”

The Gospel provides us with two contrasting examples of making their journey to God—there is Herod, and then the Magi. While the Scripture readings speak of “light, stars, shining radiance, glory, revelation, making known”—all words that express powerful visual imagery, King Herod yet remained in darkness—he did not see what the Magi saw. Instead, he was “greatly troubled”, feeling threatened that the coming of a new King would mean a potential rival to his throne and challenge his worldly power.

King Herod was threatened by another, and if we are honest with ourselves, we can fall into the trap of seeing the good work of others as threats to our status, and then we view other people as being our competitors, rather than our “copartners in Christ” and “sharers in the Gospel.” Fostering such a disposition in his heart, Herod can only promise false homage as he disguises his true intention of disposing of his “rival” king. Ultimately, Herod’s deceit, treachery, and secrecy fail to provide proper reverence for the newborn King, and in his actions, he quickly chooses death, rather than drawing close to the One who is Life itself.

In contrast to Herod, the Magi demonstrate that there is “another way,” a different route to be traveled—a path that avoids sadness, sin, and death, and leads to God. Their “Journey to the Lord” is evident in their physical travels, covering a great distance from Persia, to Jerusalem, and on to Bethlehem. But, we can see in their journey that it’s not just about traveling across the land, but it is rooted in a spiritual journey, for they too experienced the desire for God written in every human heart.

The Magi’s interior journey reveals itself when the Gospel states, “They were overjoyed at seeing the star”—the Magi’s joy, the joy that comes from seeing the reappearing star and encountering Christ, quickly turns to homage when they finally set their eyes on the Child with His mother. They become the first Gentiles to receive the call of Christ and go in search of Him, fulfilling the promise proclaimed by Isaiah that all nations and peoples shall walk in the light.

We are confronted daily with many attractive alternatives that entice us—power, deceit, envy, rivalry, hatred—all choices that ultimately lead down a path of darkness and away from God. One spiritual writer wrote, “The arrival point of the journey is not the closing in on oneself, but the proclamation of the good news of Christ to the world.” The Magi become the first of many to come to the Lord and find faith. The wise men from the East are like all of the saints throughout the Church’s history, who have themselves become lights and examples for us that mark out the path to God. Their lives serve as a kind of ‘moral compass’ which we use to find our way and keep ourselves headed in the right direction.

If we are to respond to this wonderful feast and bring light to the darkness that covers the earth, then we must ask God to dispel the darkness that overshadows our own hearts—all those things that prevent the Lord’s grace from shining upon us and through us.

This is a feast of light, and a feast of our “Journey to the Lord.” Like the Magi, may we strive to open up the path to Christ for others, and give our lives in search of “the one Star which never sets—Christ the Lord.”

Reflection by Fr. Paul Sheller, OSB