THE EPIPHANY OF THE LORD
7 JANUARY 2024
The
prophet Isaiah knows the darkness that covers the earth and the thick clouds
over his people. They had just returned
from their fifty-year exile in Babylon.
Most of them had never been in Jerusalem. They had been born in captivity. They heard of the glories of the city of
Jerusalem and the beauty and grandeur of the temple from their parents. However, there is no glory and no beauty or
grandeur in the land they now inhabit. The
Babylonians had left the city in
absolute ruins and destroyed the temple.
They face the daunting task of rebuilding both.
But the
prophet insists that this darkness and the thick clouds will not last. The prophet promises that the bright light of
God’s presence will shine forth in Jerusalem.
That light will attract people from far off places and bring their sons
and daughters to be part of this great light.
Caravans of camels will come from Midian and Ephah and Sheba bringing
expensive gifts to proclaim the praises of the Lord.
Saint
Matthew announces that the prophecy of Isaiah has been fulfilled. He does not tell us why the mysterious magi
come to pay homage to the newborn king of the Jews. They more than likely come from the remains
of Babylon where there is a strong and active community of Jewish people who
continue to live in exile. They are
drawn by what may have been a super nova lighting up the sky and casting its
light on the city of Jerusalem. After a
long journey, they meet the present king, Herod.
Herod asks
the chief priests and scribes about the birth of the Christ, the long-awaited
Messiah. They quote the prophet Micah
who speaks of Bethlehem as the place from which the Messiah will shepherd his
people. Herod is both devious and
paranoid. He does not want any newborn
king to rival him. He has already killed
some of his own sons. The religious
leaders have gotten the message and ignored it.
Herod sends the magi who have no understanding to Bethlehem. He tells them to bring the information back
so he can pay the newborn king homage.
They
recognize the divine light in the child who is with his mother (and more than
likely with Joseph) in a house in Bethlehem.
They give him gifts. There is a
running joke that if they had been wise women instead of wise men, they would
have given more practical gifts – diapers, warm clothing, and baby formula. But these gifts are not practical. They reveal the true identity and mission of
this child. The gold points to the
reality that he is a king. The
frankincense indicates that he is God.
The myrrh reveals his mission as the Suffering Servant. The wood of his manger will eventually be
replaced by the wood of the cross. As a
human person, he will embrace the most difficult part of being human – sharing
completely in our suffering and in our death.
His body will be anointed with myrrh at his burial. He will be raised from the dead.
We too know
our share of darkness that covers the earth and the thick clouds over us. The wars in the Holy Land, Ukraine, and Sudan
give us reason to mourn over the destruction of so many innocent people at the
hands of ruthless leaders. Our own
country is torn apart by anger and hatred.
We suffer divisions in our Church that cause fear and confusion and
pain. And yet, we have also encountered
the incredible reality that God has taken on human flesh and dwells in the midst
of all our darkness. Have you ever
noticed that all religious art depicting the birth of Christ is filled with
light? That light does not come from
some external source. That light comes
directly from the child lying in the manger.
We can
leave the Christmas Season tomorrow with the same hope that the prophet gave to
his people. God dwells in our
midst. No darkness can overcome it. God’s light, present in the Lord Jesus Christ
who dwells in our midst, will prevail.
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