The Epiphany of the Lord (2025)

The Epiphany of the Lord 
Isaiah 60:1-6 
Psalm 72:1-2, 7-8, 10-11, 12-13 (11) 
Ephesians 5:2-3a, 5-6 
Matthew 2:1-12 
January 4, 2026 

In my homily for the recent Holy Day, I spoke about peace.  It was not world peace but rather the Peace of the Lord that I was speaking of. 

Yet, we cannot ignore the need for world peace.  I know for myself that the wars, terrorism, mass shootings, and polarization that we see in the world make it more difficult for me to know the Peace of the Lord in my heart. 

Yet, this does not leave me without hope.  It would be easier if we could have hope in human efforts for peace.  There is a greater source of hope, our hope in our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. 

We hear Isaiah speak today from a time when the Babylonian Exile was coming to an end.  Defended by their enemies, many of the Israelites had lost hope.  God speaks through Isaiah to restore their hope. 

God says, “Your light has come, the glory of the Lord shines upon you.”  For the Israelites, this was seen in the end of the Babylonian Exile.  In defeat, they experienced darkness.  In the ending of the exile, God gave them light. 

For us, we live in the darkness of sin, war, violence, and polarization.  Our light is Jesus Christ.  When we come to him in faith, we receive the Light of Christ.  The Light of Christ makes it possible to see the world differently.  It makes it possible for us to look beyond the darkness to see something greater. 

When the Light of Christ shines within us and we allow the light to shine so others can see it, then we can see the words, “Nations shall walk by your light, and kings by your shining radiance” fulfilled. 

Our faith is not meant to be a secret.  It is for every nation to adore our Lord.  “All nations shall pay him homage, all nations shall serve him.”  When we follow the Light of Christ, we realize that it is meant to be shared with everyone.  “The Gentiles are coheirs” with what the Lord offers us. 

When Jesus was just a few days old, we see the magi come from afar to give him homage.  They were not Jews, but they knew there was something special in him when they “saw his star.” 

Unfortunately, not everyone saw Jesus for who He is.  King Herod was of Jewish heritage.  Yet, he did not rejoice at the news of the newborn Christ.  Instead, “he was greatly troubled.” Why?  Because when Herod heard there was a newborn king of the Jews, it was a threat to his power. 

Herod was not alone in being troubled by the news of the newborn king of the Jews.  All Jerusalem was troubled with him.  Why?  Because, just as Herod saw Jesus as a threat to his power, Jesus was a threat to their way of life.  If the Messiah had finally come, they were going to have to get their lives in order.  They didn’t what to have to change. 

Are you ready to follow the Light of Christ?  Are you ready to stop following worldly ways to follow Jesus as your light? 

What about our government leaders?   

I spoke about the wars, terrorism, mass shootings, and polarization that we experience in our world.  Are our leaders doing what God intends to end these?  We need to pray that God endows our leaders with justice.  We are not talking about legal justice here.  We are not talking about justice in the sense of retaliation, an eye for an eye.  We are talking about God’s justice, making the world as God means it to be. 

We might feel insignificant in national and world affairs.  We are not.  Just as Bethlehem was “by no means least” among the leaders of Israel, neither are we least among the nations.  Our actions in bringing the Peace of the Lord to the world are not limited by our human weaknesses.  God will provide what we need to bring his light to the world. 

Herod told the magi, “When you have found him, bring me word, that I too may go and do him homage.”  Herod was lying.  He had no intention in giving homage to Jesus.  He wanted to kill Jesus. 

The term “cancel culture” is a relatively new term to me but, in Herod we see it is not entirely a new concept.  While not entirely new, the cancel culture is becoming more prevalent in people choosing to ignore (cancel out) those they disagree with.  Worse yet is the attempts of those who have lost the Light of Christ is to silence anyone who speaks of Jesus and his teachings.  It is not enough for them to cancel ideas contrary to their own in their lives.  They want to cancel them out for everyone.  It seems they do not want others to have the freedom to make choices for themselves, for if they do not hear what others say, they are not free to make a choice for themselves. 

Do you follow the Light of Christ yourself?  If you do, you will come to “be radiant at what you see” and “your heart shall throb and overflow.”  Then others will see the Light of Christ within you.  They will see the joy and peace it brings you.  Then, they can choose Jesus for themselves.   

We share the faith and we pray for all people to choose to embrace the Light of Christ. 

Peace, 

 Fr. Jeff