The Epiphany of the Lord C  January 3, 2010

Isaiah 60:1-6   Psalm   Ephesians 3:2-3a, 5-6  Matthew 2:1-12

“Where is the child” – we have come to see him.

The story of the magi (from which the words magic and magician are derived) is mysterious and captures the imagination. Like an iceberg, 9/10 of what we know is legend and a fruit of our imagination. Our children learn from us, and our children will tell us, that the magi were three wise men. Their names were Balthazar, Melchior and Casper. They were tall dark, handsome and rich. They came riding on camels.

The Gospel tells us that thee were wise men from the East. There is no mention of their number or whether they came riding on camels. Matthew, who is the only evangelist who tells us about the Magi, has a style of quoting Old Testament prophecies. However, Matthew does not quote Isaiah 60 when telling us the story of the Magi. It is from here were have the mention of camels and the mention of the gifts of gold and frankincense.

Although it is not mentioned, the wise men must have camped during the heat of the day and travelled during the cool of the evening and the night. They followed the star which would only be seen at night. Therefore for the most part they travelled in the dark.

This is symbolic of our own lives especially the most important events of our lives: our marriages, our single lives, our priesthood. We have a general call or vocation. Falling in love, we are led on by this emotion through life. As I listen to the stories of people, the general trend is : we want a home, a family, children, a steady job to pay the bills and have food on the table. But like the magi, we travel in the dark. The general goals are set by society and our beliefs. The star that leads us on is our trust in God and our desire to do what is right and lead moral lives.

The wise men were unaware that the child was the Messiah. How could they know> They thought that he was a King. They were mistaken as would the Apostles, the Scribes and Pharisees be mistaken in the public life of Jesus. They were symbolic of our own lives. God, very wisely, does not tell us how our lives are going to unfold. If we knew all the details we would probably loose heart and the will to carry on. As with Mary in the Mystery of the Annunciation, we often wonder: “How can this be possible”. We ask questions, but like Mary we are challenge to say, “Let it be done unto me according to your will”

The Magi did not have a compass or a GPS to show them the exact location of the Child they were searching. The star was there to point the direction. But they had to use their own knowledge and wisdom, their will and their desire to continue. But they must have asked questions. We too must ask questions in our journey. Some of these pertain to our own lives and lifestyles:

Why am I male not female?

Why am I gay or straight?

Why have I married or remained single?

Why was I born in a poor family or a comfortably rich family?

Why was I born in a situation where I was physically or sexually or mentally abused, or born in a well adjusted loving family?

These will help us to continue in our journey of life with a degree of accomplishment or grumbling like the Israelites on their journey from Egypt. Are we like the Magi really seeking the Child? Or do we continue to drift generally and hopefully in the right direction?

But Paul tells us in the second reading: “The commission of God’s grace was given to me”. We were not put into this world just as adornments. We were not told to “be there, look good and pretty or handsome.” We were not called to be “with it” whatever that implies.  The responsorial psalm tells us quite dramatically: All the ends of the earth will adore the Lord.

We, that is you and I have been commissioned to make the Lord known. We are called to the Star so that all the nations may come to adore the Lord. But first we must know the child who was born to be king – in our own personal lives.

May I suggest three steps in doing this. This is not for our New Year’s resolution nor is it original. I read it some in some place.

The first step is to be a person of integrity. If I give my word I should keep it. The word that God gave me is a gift, and I should not use words either to demean myself or bring others down. It is a powerful gift and it can build up or destroy others. Hence I must be careful of how I use this gift.

The second step is that we are not perfect, and hence we can expect that people will criticise, comment, even advise us on our way of life, and acting. Do not take on these comments personally. This is pretty tough. However their criticism is often a projection of themselves and their outlook on life. They have no idea of what your vocation or calling is. This leads to the third step.

The third step is to do your very best in all that you do. You will then have a good nights sleep and peace in your heart. You were not called to have success. If that comes your way then it will be a bonus. Remember even the good Lord ended up on the Cross, but he gave everything to do the Will of the Father.

This is the star that guides us on. Follow it and we will find the Child. Are you ready?