We Saw His Star at its Rising and Have Come to Do Him Homage

01-07-2024Weekly ReflectionFr. Manasseh Iorchir, VC

“Epiphany,” as used in the Liturgy, refers to the self-manifestation of God to His people. Prior to the birth of Christ, the Jews, who were the first to enjoy a covenant relationship with God, believed that God was exclusively theirs and very distant even to the people with whom He made a covenant. As far as they were concerned, Yahweh was Israel’s God and all who desired a relationship with Him were required to adhere to Jewish rituals. He was also an almighty distant power who controlled their people’s lives through strict obedience to His laws. So awesome and distant was God that even his name could not be called.

He lived in Heaven and those who wanted to communicate with Him needed ritual cleansing to be able to approach His sanctuary. The Epiphany presents to the Jews, and to the entire world, a “new revelation” of who God is. God is for all, Jews and Gentiles alike, and He has chosen to be Emmanuel (God with us) to dwell among finite beings in order to graciously lend us His infinity and afford us the opportunity to participate in His immortality. This self-manifestation took place at the visit of the Magi to the newly born Messiah.

Matthew’s Gospel describes the Magi as wisemen from the east who arrived in Jerusalem and inquired from Herod where “the newborn King of the Jews” was born. By their own admission, they saw “His star” at its rising and they, gentile nobles from distant lands, had come to do Him homage. After finding out from Jewish religious authorities and experts in tradition about the specific location of the Messiah’s birth, Herod sent them on to Bethlehem with the instruction to return to him after finding the Child. The “wisemen” had abandoned the “rising star” -- an instrument with which God had led them from their homeland to the gates of Jerusalem. Matthew does not suggest that the star stopped moving when they arrived in Jerusalem. Instead, they resorted to “seeking counsel with men,’’ and by doing so, they put the life of the promised Redeemer and the salvation of the world at risk. This is what happens when we take a break from relying on Divine Revelation for guidance and turn to beautifully crafted yet mundane ideas as aids to navigate the turbulent waves of life. The Word of God, Sacred Tradition and the Magisterium (the teaching office of the Church) has never ceased being an assured compass for those who truly desire a right relationship with God and their neighbor. God’s love is constant; we are solely responsible for putting our salvation at risk when we driftaway from Him because we have chosen seemingly more rational but worldly ideas over and above His will as made known to us in Divine Revelation.

The Magi reconnected with the star and offered prophetic gifts of gold (the Royal metal, an appropriate giftfor a King), frankincense (highlighting Christ’s priesthood and Divinity) and myrrh (a prophetic allusion to His salvific death). As we receive God’s revelation of Himself by dwelling among us for all people, may we be generous enough to off er Him gifts of our wills and intellects, gifts of ourselves so that through us, Christ will continue to conquer the darkness of sin and evil in our world. May we also hasten to reconcile with, and return to, God’s never failing will whenever we realize that we have not been faithful to His guidance.

Please be kind and may God bless you.

Happy New Year!

Fr. Manasseh