The Epiphany of the Lord – Homily (2025)

The Epiphany of the Lord
Isaiah 60:1-6
Psalm 72:1-2, 7-8, 10-11, 12-13 (11)
Ephesians 3:2-3a, 5-6
Matthew 2:1-12
January 5, 2025

It has been a rough week in the news; a car attack in New Orleans killing at least a dozen based on hate; a Mass shooting in New York City; a possible truck bombing in Las Vegas.  Across the world, there was a Mass shooting in Montenegro.

“See, darkness covers the earth…”

Yes, these are dark events in our world.  This was true in Isaiah’s day and it is true today.

Isaiah did not speak of darkness alone.  He also spoke of light, “your light has come, the glory of the Lord shines upon you.”

Eleven days ago we began our celebration of Christmas as the birth of our Savior.  Jesus comes to bring light into the world. 

The Lord wants us to share the Light of Christ with the world.  The Lord says through Isaiah, “Nations shall walk by your light, and kings by your shining radiance.” 

When we look at baby Jesus lying in the manger, we become “radiant” at what we see and our hearts should “throb and overflow.” 

We are to take what we receive and share it with the whole world for “the Gentiles are coheirs, members of the same body, and copartners.”

To begin the outreach to the Gentiles, God summoned the Magi from the east to come and give Jesus homage.  God provided the star (the light) to guide the magi to Jesus.

The magi had open hearts while King Herod “was greatly troubled and all Jerusalem with him” when they heard a new king had been born for the Jews.  The world needed Christ then but not all were open to receiving him.

Is the world any different today?

The magi were guided by the light of the star to Jesus.

Do you allow yourself to be guided by the Light of Christ or do you prefer to do things your own way?  If you want to do things your way, then you shouldn’t blame God when things don’t go well.

The magi “prostrated themselves and did him homage.’

Do you prostrate your heart and soul before the Lord?  Do you give yourself over to Jesus or are your words of praise empty words?

In response to seeing Jesus, the magi “opened their treasures and offered him gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh.” 

Jesus gives his life for you.

Do you offer him gifts in return? 

Do you give of your gold (i.e., wealth)? 

Do you give of your time in service to God symbolized by the smoke of the incense rising up to him?

The world has a lot of darkness now.  It needs light. 

Are you willing to use the gifts that God has given you to be a light to the world?

It would be easy to expect our government, i.e., our kings, to give us what we need.  For instance, we say the government needs to end the terror attacks.

That’s not what the Lord prophesized through Isaiah.  He said, “Nations shall walk by your light, and kings by your shining radiance.”

Like the psalmist, we need to ask God to endow our leaders with his judgement and that they lead us with justice.  However, we can be a light to them of what is just in God’s eyes.  When they do not keep the faith, we need to show our faith to them.

Yes, there is darkness in the world. God offers us light to see as He sees.

When preaching on the occasion of the World Day of Peace, Pope Francis recently reminded us that if we want peace, we need to respect the dignity of all life.

There is too much hatred in the world.  The terrorist attacks are often rooted in the hatred.  However, if all life is seen as good, then people should not want to kill for any reason. 

Are you willing to let the Lord work through you to bring peace to the world?

I found myself reminded of the song Let There be Peace on Earth this week.  It begins, “Let there be peace on earth, and let it begin with me.” 

Are you willing to let peace begin with you?

Let go of the hatred and turn to love.  Let the love of Christ shine through you.

I also thought above the prayer attributed to St. Francis.  It begins, “Lord, make me an instrument of your peace.”  Are you willing to let God use you to bring peace to the world?  Are you willing to let go of any hatred within you so that the Lord can sow love through you?  Are you willing to let his light shine through you to rid the world of darkness?