The Epiphany of the Lord – Homily

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

We come today to celebrate The Epiphany of the Lord.  In the Old Testament we hear stories of God appearing to people.  God had appeared in the burning bush to Moses and in the tiny whispering sound to Elijah. 

Now, Jesus, the Son of God has become incarnate in the flesh to become our savior.  Isaiah foretold the day, “Then you shall be radiant at what you see, your heart shall throb and overflow.”  Ultimately, this is fulfilled in the birth of Jesus but the Israelites receive “light” before then.

At the time Isaiah wrote this, the Israelites had been defeated by their enemies and many of the Israelites had been taken away in exile.  For them, it was a time when darkness covered the whole earth. 

It is in that time of darkness that the Lord tells his people through the prophet Isaiah, “Rise up in splendor, Jerusalem! Your light has come.”  God is bringing the exile to an end and restoring Israel.

In Jesus’ time, Israel had again fallen.  They were under Roman rule.  Jesus Christ came to save the world and to bring light to the darkness.

For centuries since then Christianity was at the heart of Western Civilization.  But people became lax in their faith.  Society has now rejected Christian morality.  Once again, there is darkness.

We need the Light of Christ.  We are given that light at Baptism when our baptismal candle is lit and the priest or deacon says, “Receive the Light of Christ.”  What do you do with this Light?

Isaiah writes, “Nations shall walk by your light, and kings by your shining radiance.”  Do you allow the Light of Christ to shine through you to the world or do you hide the Light of Christ, perhaps even hiding it from yourself?

Isaiah speaks of those who will come from afar, from various nations, including those who will come bearing gifts of gold and frankincense. 

Psalm 72 says, “All kings shall pay him homage, all nations shall serve him.”  We are not to hide the Lord from the world.  God wants to save all people.

Paul writes of how the “Gentiles are coheirs…copartners in the promise in Christ Jesus.”

God wants to save all people.  If you look at our parishioners, you will see mostly white Americans.  Look again.  We have people in our parishes who were born on other continents including South America, Europe, and Australia.  We have people with recent roots in Asia.  Occasionally we see people from Africa here.

God’s people includes everyone.

Today’s gospel tells the story of the Epiphany of the Lord.  Among the first to see the newborn king of the Jews are magi from the east.  They are not Jews.  They are Gentiles but they are led by the star to see Jesus.

They see his star at its rising to know He has been born.  It is not random chance that they see this.  It is God’s Will.  God wants us to know that Jesus comes to save everyone.

Where do the magi first look for Jesus?  In Jerusalem of course!  Where else would one look for the newborn king of the Jews?  Yet, Jesus is not there. 

King Herod was a Jew by heritage.  He should have rejoiced at the news that Jesus was born but he did not.  Instead, he saw Jesus as a threat to his power.  If only he had opened his heart.

King Herod was not alone in being troubled by the news of Jesus birth.  We are told that all of Jerusalem was troubled with him.  They should have rejoiced at the news.  Instead it seems they realized it meant they would need to change their ways to live in accord with God’s Will.

Being of Jewish heritage, King Herod knew there were prophecies of where the Messiah was to be born.  He asked the chief priests and scribes what those prophecies said.  The answer was Bethlehem.

The Magi set out for Jerusalem.  King Herod lied to them, claiming he wanted to give homage to Jesus when what he really intended was to kill him.

The star then led the magi to Jesus.  They followed the light and encountered Jesus in person and deep in their hearts.  They “did him homage” and “opened their treasures” moved by their encounter with the Son of God.

Are you moved by your experience of Jesus’ birth?  What about his death on the Cross?  Do you follow the Light of Christ or do you make your own path?

Sitting in church one might want to say I’m here, aren’t I?

Yes, you are here.  Are you here as a fan in a sports stadium, watching what is going on but not playing on the team yourself?  Or do you make yourself part of the team?  If you want to be on Jesus’ team, then you need to play by his rules and let the Light of Christ shine through you to the world.