EPIPHANY

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

"Go and search diligently for the child, bring me word, , that I to may go and do him homage…"

What went wrong?

How could Herod have these words pressed upon his lips yet the breath that produced them be so filled with guile that it would lead to the murder of every 2 year old boy and younger in the area in hopes to destroy the Christ child.

Deceit!

It is such an ugly word for it describes an uglier reality.  In fact deceit is antithesis to very reality of God himself.  God's word effects what it represents.  It makes happen what it carries.  Its breath and its meaning are identical.

Yet deceit is the opposite. The word produced is disguised and meant to fool.  Evil is nourished on the deceitful tongue.  Deceit is what fuels the fires of hell and all its torment.

What is so appalling is that we can all relate to Herod.  There is a little of Herod in all of us and this is why we fall silent when we read this gospel and experience the unfolding events.

Yet despite this God continues to make himself known.  The light continues to shine in the darkness.

St. John says it best, "the light entered the darkness and darkness did not overcome it."

The epiphany gives us hope that no matter how dark we may experience things in and around our life the light remains shining bright.