Homily: Solemnity of the Lord’s Epiphany
Matthew 2:1-12
5 January 2025
Fr. Ricky Cañet Montañez, AA
There is a video circulating that suggests that the Magi who visited Jesus at His birth were connected to the prophet Daniel who was among the exiles in Babylon. Daniel impressed King Nebuchadnezzar so much that he made him chief of the Magi in Babylon which is East of Israel. Naturally, they would have discussed the prophecies involving astrology and they would have studied Daniel’s writings particularly Chapter 9: 24-27 which speaks of the timeline for the birth of the Messiah. There is roughly 600 years between the time of Daniel and the birth of Jesus, and who is to say if the connection is genuine. It does bring to light however the mysteries of God’s work and how events can have a significant effect on the future without our knowing. It is only in retrospect or in looking back do we see such connections.
Today, we celebrate the Epiphany of our Lord. An “Epiphany” is a discovery or an amazing insight that clarifies things or sheds light on matters. The feast today is about the revelation of the mystery of God’s love for us as revealed in the image of the child born for us — born to be one of us, and born in poverty and powerlessness, with us. In the Birth of Jesus, God desires to renew His relationship with humanity. The promise made to the people whom God called His “chosen people” is now made manifest to the rest of the world.
In the Gospel, we are told that “these wise men from the East” (Matthew 2:1) relentlessly followed the light of a star in their search of the Infant King. First of all, who were these Magi, sometimes referred to as kings? Most scholars agree that in ancient times, in what is known to us as the Middle East, the Magi — from which come the words “magician” and “magic”— were astrologers. Some say they were Babylonian astrologers which would play into our story of Daniel at the start. Others would say Arabian magicians or simply adventure-seekers. What cannot be contested is the fact that they were men who studied the skies, and found meaning in the movement of the stars and the planets. Since they were known to be wise men, they were quite influential and would have been very wealthy. They were respected in all levels of society and held sway in determining the courses of action in people’s lives.
Despite their brilliance and cognisance, these seekers who studied the stars for an understanding of “mysteries”, might not have fully understood the full meaning of the mystery of a child born in the stable. After all, the prophecy of a Messiah meant more for the people of Israel than to any foreigners. They could not have fully comprehended their discovery of God’s saving presence made available because they may not even have been believers in the God of Israel. Their understanding of the reality before them did not diminish nor did it take away the truth that God had just given a great gift not only for His Chosen People but also for all the nations — for everyone, including the Gentiles who are represented by the three Magi.
The Magi’s epiphany journey is the pattern of our Christian living. We, too as Christians always attempt to open ourselves to God’s leading us to our ultimate destiny. This is why we read the Bible, receive the sacraments, and pray — we do our best to keep connected with God and be attuned to His plan for His people. Like the Magi we seek God diligently on what seems to be a ‘fool’s errand’ for some people, especially those who believe more in themselves than in a higher power. Along the way, we are met with many obstacles that may discourage us from moving forward and may require us to change course and to take another way. A new route is not necessarily a bad thing — it could be a shortcut to a destination, or a safer route for us. Oftentimes, it is when we are stubborn and impatient that we veer away by ourselves and get lost and distracted from our goal. We simply have to trust that in God’s loving mercy He will lead us back to where we intend to go; where He intends us to be, in accordance with His grand plan for humanity. It is only in accepting the nature of our journey and surrendering to God’s guidance can we offer Him the greatest gift we can give — the treasure of our very selves.
On this feast, I pray that we all come to discover God’s guiding voice speaking to us and leading us onto the right path. Let us take after the Magi that wisely heeded God’s warning in their dream to take another route on their way home. May our life’s journey lead us down paths where we become wiser and better persons ready to offer the best of ourselves to our King who desires to be revealed in us and through us this year.
Sunday Gospel Reflections 