Word to the Wise
Sunday, January 2, 2022 - The Solemnity of the Epiphany of the Lord - ABC [This feast was traditionally celebrated on Jan. 6; in the USA it is now on the Sunday after Jan. 1]
[Isa 60:1-6; Eph 3:2-3a, 5-6; Matt 2:1-12,]Caravans of camels shall fill you, dromedaries from MIdian and Ephah; all from Sheba shall come bearing gold and frankincense, and proclaiming the praises of the Lord. [Isaiah] And behold, the star that they had seen at its rising preceded them, until it came and stopped over the place where the child was. They were overjoyed at seeing the star, and on entering the house they saw the child with Mary his mother. They prostrated themselves and did him homage. Then they opened their treasures and offered him gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh. [Matthew]
The story of the Magi provides much to the imagination that has little to do with their gospel significance, but why spoil the fun? Our imaginations have supplied the number, which varied for a long time and finally settled on three, probably because of the three gifts mentioned. Our imaginations have also supplied them with names: Caspar, Melchior and Balthasar. The opera by Giancarlo Menotti, Amahl and the Night Visitors brings a lot of the various ideas into one musical presentation.
Liturgically, for our brethren of the Eastern rites, the feast of the Epiphany is equivalent to the Latin rite Christmas Day. The title of the feast, The Epiphany of the Lord, comes from the Greek word epiphanei which means to "shine out." The star provides the shining image and can get lost in all the exotic images of the three foreign figures. The meaning of the feast is really about the star which invited the Magi and invites all of us to take on that "star" role of inviting others. The Gospel According to Matthew will quote Jesus as saying in response to the faith of the pagan centurion, "Many shall come from the east and the west and sit down with Abraham and Isaac and Jacob at the feast in the kingdom of Heaven." [Matt. 8:11]The star is the symbol of revelation and the Magi are those from afar who respond with gifts and homage. In the rest of the Gospel According to Matthew, these non-Jewish responders are represented by the centurion and the Canaanite woman [Matt. 15:21-28].
Today, as we continue to celebrate the Christmas/Epiphany liturgical season, the revelation of God incarnate in the person of Jesus Christ challenges us to be "stars" that reveal this wondrous truth and grace. AMEN