Epiphany

Isaiah 60:1-6; Psalm 72 Lord, every nation on earth will adore you; Ephesians 3:2-6; Matthew 2:1-12

In today's gospel we encounter many characters.

We have the Magi who are on a journey, following the light from above.

We have Herod, who is greatly troubled, who follows not.

We have all of Jerusalem who is troubled because Herod is troubled; they are paralyzed by fear. They let the personality of the leader determine their life of faith. Sounds like our society today.

We have the chief priest and the scribes who know the correct answer to the question as to where the Christ was to be born and yet they do nothing; they pretend it doesn't matter in order to save their own skin.

We have Mary, Joseph, and Jesus who are in the manger caught up in love.

We have the star, which obediently illuminates the path from above, inviting all to find the Christ below.

Let us zoom in on the Magi and Herod, they seem to rise to front of the gospel.

Zooming in on them we discover the attitude of response that lends itself to the epiphany; We catch a glimpse of what a disciple looks like...

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For the Magi, the star brought hope; they found the light to be one of favor even with the risk involved; they trusted that God was leading them, and that no matter the outcome, circumstances, it would be far greater than never having gone. They did not care about themselves they wanted the truth; it was truth that led them and brought then security in their life and gave them courage to make the journey of faith.

For Herod the star brought despair; he found the light to be blinding because it challenged his rule, his plan, his lifestyle; he did not care about the truth but only himself; he wanted to do it his own way; thus, he was filled with insecurity and was a coward and never made the journey.

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The Magi journeyed in trust; they risked everything, leaving all the comforts behind, they found the wealth of the nations; trusting in something greater than themselves they found consolation in the smile of a child.

Herod trusted only in himself; he journeyed not, risked nothing, lost everything. In the face of the child he found torment and a reason to kill. He refused to be consoled. Innocense brings torment to the perverted.

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The Magi rejoiced at seeing the child; they brought gifts and opened their hearts in gratitude; their eyes were opened to see the beauty before them in this ordinary reality of a child in his mother's lap.

Herod was filled with fury and rage; he brought no gifts but only destruction; his heart remained closed to the ordinary; his eyes did not see for they were glazed over with self-gratification rather than be gratified by God.

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The Magi were fascinated by the star and allowed it to lead them to worship; filled with humility they fell to their knees in silent reverence for the king of kings. They received a blessing and were given a new direction, a new way to follow.

Herod was enraged by the star; he brought fear upon the whole land; He was filled with pride and thus worshiped not, gave nothing; he refused direction and was left in darkness, stumbling over his own two feet.

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The magi are true disciples in allowing themselves to be led, where as Herod remains obstinate and unrelenting, stubborn in his stance. The Magi are given the gift of rejoicing; Herod receives the gift of death.

The Magi learn to rejoice in the ordinary reality of life, for since the face of the child, every face can be an epiphany. Herod ends his life in misery, never knowing joy only destruction.

The choice is ours.