Epiphany: 4^th Jan

1. A building caught on fire and a young boy was stranded on the first floor. He started crying for help as the smoke increased. The boy’s father was standing just below the boy, and told him to jump. But I cannot see you daddy, cried the boy. But I can see you shouted the father. Just jump. Trusting in his father, the boy jumped safely into his father’s arms. The boy jumped from smoke and darkness into light. He jumped from sure death to life.

2. Today we have wise men who came from the East. They do not know the loving Father, but like the boy, they are moving from darkness into light. Their story like that of the little boy, grips the imagination. Matthew gives us just the bare bones:

Wise men came from the East

They followed the star.

They brought gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh.

3. Our imagination and devotion have filled up the rest. We have turned the Magi into Magic. We no longer have wise men, we have turned them into kings with flowing cloaks and crowns on their heads. They have come across the desert at great peril of the lives, on camels which are not mentioned in the Gospel. We have even given symbolism for their gifts:

Gold is given because Jesus in king

Frankincense is given because Jesus is God

Myrrh is given because of his suffering and death.

However, we keep the original framework of the Gospel story. The wise men have moved from darkness into light, they have moved from the vagueness of a star to the certainty when they enter and see “the child with Mary, his mother.”

4. The Epiphany or Manifestation of Jesus to the World is introduced to us by Isaiah. He speaks to the Chosen people who are about to move back to Jerusalem. They would be discouraged to see their city destroyed, none of the old familiar shops and streets, but the greatest tragedy would be the centre of their religious and cultural life: the temple of Jerusalem. It would be in ruins. However the prophet gives them a message of hope. They will pass from darkness and gloom of their exile into light. The glory and the light of the Lord will once again shine on Jerusalem.  The darkness that covers the earth, and the clouds that overshadows the people will disappear in the glory and brilliance of God.

Moreover, nations and kings and caravans of camels will come to view the splendour of Jerusalem. Perhaps it is these caravans of camels that we have put into the story of the Magi, the wise men from the East.

5. The  nations came to Jerusalem. They were attracted to the light and glory of the Lord. In the second reading Paul invites us to be stewards of this same grace. We are by our lives and actions to be a light and glory of God to those who like the Wise men from the East,  are seeking the One who will bring peace, joy and harmony to our world which seems to be getting into more wars, hatred and intent on destroying one another in the process. Even as we talk we know about the bombing in Gaza. Depending on our pro-Israel or pro-Palestinian tendencies we will have different opinions. However, a lot of innocent people are dying in the process in a country not far from Jerusalem on which the Light and Glory of the Lord shone.

6. Elsewhere in the world, one wonders whether the darkness and gloom of the People of Israel in the first reading is not the same that touches us today.

The exiled Chosen people faced uncertainty as they returned.

The Magi faced uncertainty as they came from the East.

We face uncertainty with economic recession.

Many face uncertainty, chaos and confusion with a possible loss of jobs.

We need a prophet to tells us that Jerusalem will shine again

We need a star that will rise not merely in the East, but in our lives.

The call to the Wise men was to depart for their country by a different way.

The call to us too is to walk by a different way. Different from the way that Society glibly proffers to us: Eat, drink and be merry, - for tomorrow is uncertain.

Eat drink and be merry, we can certainly do that, but in a different way:

Eat the Bread of Life

Drink the Cup of Salvation

And rejoice because “this is the day, the Lord has made, let us rejoice and be glad.”

7. “Return to their country a different way.” Is a call to moved from being self-centred and selfish.  It is a call to be more caring and sensitive to our brother and sisters around who can barely provide food, clothing and shelter for their families. It is a call for those of us who can manage for themselves, to be champions for the voiceless in society, for those who suffer injustice, for those who work hard and do not get an adequate wage. 

It is a call to the voice of conscience to the 10% of the population who control 90% of the world’s wealth and resources.

We need a star to bring us home a different way.