Word to the Wise
Sunday, January 7, 2024 - Jan. 7 (if Epiphany is Jan. 8)
[Isa 60:1-6; Ephesians 3:2-3a, 5-6; Matt 2:1-12]When Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea, in the days of King Herod, behold, magi from the east arrived in Jerusalem, saying, "Where is the newborn king of the Jews? We saw his star at its rising and have come to do him homage."
SUNDAY, JANUARY 7, 2024 THE EPIPHANY OF THE LORD
For the past few days here at the Dominican Monastery of the Infant Jesus in Lufkin, TX, where I am currently chaplain, three large figures have been making their way from one side of the sanctuary toward the other side, where the manger scene is located. They should be at their destination for Mass this morning, the feast of the Epiphany, because this feast features their journey. The word, "epiphany," comes from the Greek word, epiphanei, which means to shine out, and calls our attention to the star that the magi noticed and followed. Exotic figures, a star, symbolic gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh, an evil king....this is the stuff of good story-telling. Giancarlo Menotti has popularized the story in his opera Amahl and the Night Visitors.
But in the scriptures, a story is never just there for the sake of being a good story. It is a preaching - a proclamation of God's revelation. In the Gospel According to Matthew, angels and shepherds don't appear. Instead pagan astrologers receive the message in nature - in a star. The star itself becomes an actor in the story - an agent of revelation leading the pagans to Christ!
The real "star" of the story is Jesus. Mary, Joseph, the angels, the shepherds, the magi, the astronomical star - these are all "supporting actors" in this story. But they all remind us that we, too, can be "stars" that lead others to Christ. Have we had such "stars" in our own lives? Later in the Gospel According to Matthew, Jesus will tell us, "Just so, your light must shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your heavenly Father." [Matt. 5:16] Today we follow the star and the magi to the same person who was born for us, Jesus Christ! AMEN
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