Becoming Light, An “Epiphany” for Others

Homily: The Solemnity of the Epiphany of the Lord

Matthew 2:1-12

3 January 2021

Fr. Ricky Canet Montanez 

In my family, part of our custom for welcoming the new year is to make a list of resolutions. Do you still do that?  I’ve always managed to keep my resolution to eat healthy after the holidays. As for the other items on my list, I do try to fulfill them but in all honesty, I do not always succeed. Nonetheless, it doesn’t dissuade me from making my list every year because it gives me the chance to assess how I behaved in the past and see where I need to do better in the next 12 months. 

Three days into 2021 and I can tell you this is already a special one.  We are welcoming the new year equipped with more life preservation skills than ever, and a renewed capacity for selflessness and compassion fashioned by the difficult circumstances of the pandemic. I think that we can also agree that for this generation, no other year has been eagerly anticipated with higher hopes for the blessing of new beginnings and the restoration of prosperity. I read a Facebook post from a friend that kept me thinking on New Year’s Eve about how important it is for us to be properly disposed to welcome the graces this new year has to offer. It was a quote by Vern McLellan saying “What the new year brings to you will depend a great deal on what you bring to the new year.” Let me say it again, “What the new year brings to you will depend a great deal on what you bring to the new year.” This is great advice!  Think about it! This new year will either be good or bad depending mostly on our resolve to reinforce good habits and to break bad ones during the entire year. We have to resolve to carry with us in the new year what is life-giving and part with those that are death-dealing to make the most of this opportunity for new beginnings. 

The Epiphany of the Lord is the celebration of the manifestation of Jesus Christ to the world, represented by the three Magi, who were Gentiles.  Let me quote again the words of the First Reading… “Rise up in splendour, Jerusalem! Your light has come, the glory of the Lord shines upon you. See, darkness covers the earth, and thick clouds cover the peoples; but upon you the Lord shines, and over you appears his glory. Nations shall walk by your light, and kings by your shining radiance.  Raise your eyes and look about; they all gather and come to you: your sons come from afar, and your daughters in the arms of their nurses. Then you shall be radiant at what you see, your heart shall throb and overflow, for the riches of the sea shall be emptied out before you, the wealth of nations shall be brought to you.” (Isaiah 60:1-5) This is a beautiful image foreseen by Isaiah of the day when God would be worshipped by different nations. It is an assurance that the gift of His presence is intended for all peoples. 

Today I invite you to take a closer look at our gospel passage to see how this revelation of Christ was received by the main characters in today’s story. We are presented with two contrasting responses from the Magi and the Jews loyal to Herod. The Magi whom we presume to be learned in the fields of astrology and astronomy discovered something so extraordinary in the alignment of the stars and the planets that they decided to go on a dangerous adventure to find the prophesied King of the Jews. We take note that these men were quite influential in determining the courses of action for people. They were very highly respected and most likely very wealthy as well. Setting out on this dangerous journey meant leaving behind them comforts, luxury, indulgence — things that they were familiar with and accustomed to. They risked everything they had including their very lives to find where the Star was leading them.  Their diligent efforts lead them to Jesus.  It must have been by divine inspiration that they recognized a king in such a humble environment. In all humility they bowed and paid him homage and presented him with gifts fit for royalty. In contrast, we read in the passage that King Herod and all of Jerusalem with him were greatly troubled. We surmise that Herod was rightfully threatened by this prophecy and those surrounding him were also fearful that they may lose their power, their influence, and their security should a new King unknown to them and not among their allies should rise up and take power.  Herod’s heart turns duplicitous and maliciously plots against a potential rival. The chief priests and the scribes were no different, allowing themselves to be complicit to Herod’s scheming. As we all know from the readings of December 28 that Herod went as far as having all male babies 2 years old and younger, executed to ensure the elimination of the future king. 

In life we are faced with choices on how to respond when God manifests Himself to us through people, events, and situations. We can be like Herod or the chief priests and the scribes who remained closed and unyielding to the showing forth of a divine reality that was revealed to them. It is with sadness that I recount this story of a senior citizen who was very active and very independent before the pandemic. She detested that her children were very strict with her throughout the quarantine. She started to entertain thoughts that they did not love her anymore because they did not allow her to do what she wanted.  Because of her “tampo” she distanced herself from her kids and grandchildren and is wallowing in depression. She lost interest in her usual activities and did not even participate in the charitable endeavours organized by her friends and contemporaries who were themselves house-bound.  It is lamentable but you see, we are no different when we shut our eyes and show disinterest in following the light that emerges to illumine our path. When we ignore people who caution us on our decisions and actions or call us out on our bad behaviour, we are suppressing the light, fearing changes or losing what we have been trying to hold on to.  When we try to silence their voices or pretend to be blind to the signs, we are choosing to remain in the darkness of error and vice rather than allow the light to clarify our path and transform us.  However, we can be like the Magi — open-minded, humble in their search for the truth and having hearts filled with courage to take the necessary risks to follow the “light” from heaven.  For certain, it was this attitude that allowed us to survive the perils of 2020 and to find meaning in that experience. For those among us who found ways and means to reach out to the sick and the hungry during the lockdown, to provide food, clothing and essentials for those ravaged by the typhoons, do you realize that you allowed yourselves to be led by the light of heaven out of the bleakness of our circumstance? Did you not find Jesus in the people you helped? When you looked into the eyes of people to whom you showed compassion, did you realize you were staring into the eyes of Jesus? In the same way, those at the receiving end, experienced what it was like to be touched by Jesus through your kindness and generosity! 

2021 sets all of us on a new path of adventure, filled with chances to find better versions of ourselves, to find more lucrative or fulfilling opportunities, and of course, to find Christ the King in people and situations we encounter in this new year. We can be certain that the search is always guided and overseen by God who blesses us with all these wonderful opportunities that may draw us closer to Him.  When an “epiphany”, a discovery of an amazing insight comes to us, may we be prepared to receive truth, and to endeavour on a pilgrimage towards the light. As the Magi wisely took another route on their way home, may our life’s journey lead us to a new path where we become wiser and better persons ready to offer the best of ourselves to this King who desires to be revealed in us and through us this year.

Art Work by Claudio Pastro