The Guiding Star for All Nations
The celebration of Epiphany, meaning “manifestation,” is like a second Christmas. It is, in fact, the Christmas of the Eastern Churches. It proclaims that the child Jesus belongs to and is given to the whole world as its Savior. He is given to us, but with the magi the world brings to him its variety of gifts: its varied cultures, its many facets, its different identities. And we here, like people from other nations, bring him the gift of ourselves: our faith, our fidelity, our love, as we meet him in prayer and in people, especially in the poorest.
Is 60:1-6
“Get out of bed, Jerusalem!
Wake up. Put your face in the sunlight.
God’s bright glory has risen for you.
The whole earth is wrapped in darkness,
all people sunk in deep darkness,
But God rises on you,
his sunrise glory breaks over you.
Nations will come to your light,
kings to your sunburst brightness.
Look up! Look around!
Watch as they gather, watch as they approach you:
Your sons coming from great distances,
your daughters carried by their nannies.
When you see them coming you’ll smile—big smiles!
Your heart will swell and, yes, burst!
All those people returning by sea for the reunion,
a rich harvest of exiles gathered in from the nations!
And then streams of camel caravans as far as the eye can see,
young camels of nomads in Midian and Ephah,
Pouring in from the south from Sheba,
loaded with gold and frankincense,
preaching the praises of God.
And yes, a great roundup
of flocks from the nomads in Kedar and Nebaioth,
Welcome gifts for worship at my altar
as I bathe my glorious Temple in splendor.
Eph 3:2-3a,5-6
This is why I, Paul, am in jail for Christ, having taken up the cause of you outsiders, so-called. I take it that you’re familiar with the part I was given in God’s plan for including everybody. I got the inside story on this from God himself, as I just wrote you in brief.
As you read over what I have written to you, you’ll be able to see for yourselves into the mystery of Christ. None of our ancestors understood this. Only in our time has it been made clear by God’s Spirit through his holy apostles and prophets of this new order. The mystery is that people who have never heard of God and those who have heard of him all their lives (what I’ve been calling outsiders and insiders) stand on the same ground before God. They get the same offer, same help, same promises in Christ Jesus. The Message is accessible and welcoming to everyone, across the board.
Mt 2:1-12
After Jesus was born in Bethlehem village, Judah territory—this was during Herod’s kingship—a band of scholars arrived in Jerusalem from the East. They asked around, “Where can we find and pay homage to the newborn King of the Jews? We observed a star in the eastern sky that signaled his birth. We’re on pilgrimage to worship him.”When word of their inquiry got to Herod, he was terrified—and not Herod alone, but most of Jerusalem as well. Herod lost no time. He gathered all the high priests and religion scholars in the city together and asked, “Where is the Messiah supposed to be born?”
They told him, “Bethlehem, Judah territory. The prophet Micah wrote it plainly:
It’s you, Bethlehem, in Judah’s land,
no longer bringing up the rear.
From you will come the leader
who will shepherd-rule my people, my Israel.”
Herod then arranged a secret meeting with the scholars from the East. Pretending to be as devout as they were, he got them to tell him exactly when the birth-announcement star appeared. Then he told them the prophecy about Bethlehem, and said, “Go find this child. Leave no stone unturned. As soon as you find him, send word and I’ll join you at once in your worship.” Instructed by the king, they set off. Then the star appeared again, the same star they had seen in the eastern skies. It led them on until it hovered over the place of the child. They could hardly contain themselves: They were in the right place! They had arrived at the right time! They entered the house and saw the child in the arms of Mary, his mother. Overcome, they kneeled and worshiped him. Then they opened their luggage and presented gifts: gold, frankincense, myrrh. In a dream, they were warned not to report back to Herod. So they worked out another route, left the territory without being seen, and returned to their own country.
Prayer
God of all nations, peoples and cultures,
this is the day you have made bright
with your light and your love
destined for all.
Guide us in the new ways of your Son.
Let your kindly light shine everywhere,
that all peoples may praise you
in their own language
and enrich your Church with their own gifts.
Reflection:
Epiphany of the Lord.
Isaiah 60:1-6
The Lord is here! Receive him with gifts!
Epiphany means “manifestation,” and this solemnity in eastern churches is celebrated like Christmas. By observing the Epiphany of the Lord, the Church proclaims that Jesus is the Messiah – the Saviour of the whole world. The world brings him various gifts through the magi’s visit: its varied cultures, lifestyles and identities. And we bring to the Lord the gift of ourselves: our faith, fidelity, love, and also our infirmities and weaknesses as we meet him in prayer and in people, especially in the poorest.
The Prophet Isaiah speaks of nations and peoples, young and old, who are coming closer to God’s Mountain. To understand this passage, we must consider both the historical and geographical context of the text. Jerusalem was destroyed in 587 B.C., and healthy people were taken into exile. As the years passed, any hope of the exiles’ return from Babylon became increasingly grim. This is the historical context of the passage.
The mount of Jerusalem has two valleys on either side, Gehenna and Kedron. When the sun rises, the city of Jerusalem on the top of the mountain is surrounded by a bright light, while the valleys are still in the darkness of the night. In this geographical context, the author has his vision: The first rays of the sun rising from the Mount of Olives illuminate the city. Bathed in the new hope of a bright day, the prophet sees the return of those in exile. This is a moment of joy – for the city of Jerusalem because her husband, the Lord, who had left her, is now coming back. The city is once more becoming full of life and glory. The prophet wants the city to stand up, throw away the signs of weeping and dry her tears.
What is the meaning of this extraordinary scene, and why is it proposed for the feast of the Epiphany? The prophet had in mind a dream: the return of the exiles from Babylon and the reunion of all the dispersed Israel. It is a goal not easy to achieve because the Israelites were now well settled in the land of exile and had no intention of facing new risks and uncertainties. What awaited those who returned to Jerusalem was nothing promising either: the city was still in ruins. Yet, the prophet sees the manifestation of the glory of the Lord.
With the coming of Jesus, the Son of God, people from nations and cultures flock to the Mountain of the Lord. The feast of Epiphany was instituted initially not to recall the visit of the Magi, but the birth of Jesus, Christmas, the appearance of the light. But later, this feast was adopted by the Universal Church to celebrate the revelation of the Lord to the world through the symbolism of the visit of the magi.
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