Rev. Fr. (Dr.) Osmond Anike

Readings:

First Reading: Isaiah 60:1-6 – Above you the glory of the Lord appears./em>

Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 71(72):1-2, 7-8, 10-13 – All nations shall prostrate before you, O Lord.

Second Reading: Ephesians 3:2-3, 5-6 – It has now been revealed that pagans share the same inheritance.

Gospel: Matthew 2:1-12 – The visit of the Magi.

The word “epiphany” comes from the Greek noun “epiphaneia” which means “shining forth”, “manifestation”, or “revelation”. In the ancient Greco-Roman world, an epiphany referred to the appearance of one of the gods to mortals. Since Hellenistic kings and Roman emperors were considered by many to be gods, the word epiphany was also used as a term for divine majesty, i.e., a king’s solemn visit to his people where he manifests himself for all to see. It is in the context of this Greco-Roman usage that we shall understand our celebration of today. Christ at birth was only known to a few – the shepherds and neighbours. The Epiphany was the occasion to make him manifest to the whole world by the Magi. Their visit alerted the authorities in Jerusalem that somebody of consequential type has been born. Yes, the Jews had it written in their scripture that the Messiah will be born. Yes, the scripture even gave the precise town in which he will be born. But no one was paying attention to the imminent fulfilment of that scriptural prediction until the Magi came calling. It was only then that they researched their scripture and pinpointed the exact location of the new-born child. With this, Christ became publicly manifest to everybody.

The real identity of the Magi has been a subject of scholarly discussion, and, various traditions have tried to identify them accordingly. A 14^th Century Armenian tradition for instance, identifies them as Balthasar of Arabia, Melchior of Persia, and Gaspar of India. There are other traditions that identify them with a hereditary priesthood of the Medes (known today as the Kurds) credited with profound and extraordinary religious knowledge. They were said to have been experts in the interpretation of dreams, and it is in this role of interpreting dreams that the biblical Daniel was not only associated with the Magi but also given the title, Rag-mag (Chief of the Magi). Darius the Great of the Persian Empire was said to have vested the Magi with both political and religious authority so that they became the supreme priestly caste of the empire charged with the appointment and anointing of kings throughout the empire. This tradition identifies the Magi as a group of “king-makers” who entered Jerusalem in the latter days of the reign of Herod. If this tradition is to be believed, then it could explain Herod’s fears and subsequent reactions. Having already secured the title “King of the Jews” from Augustus Caesar, it must have been unsettling for him to hear from the Magi that another “King of the Jews” has been born. There are many more other traditions surrounding the identity of the Magi which we can’t delve into here.

However, our interest should not focus on the historical identity of the Magi (this should be the concern of historians). Whatever tradition associated with their identity, the visit of the Magi has become an important part of Christmas narrative. The aim of the visit is not so much to draw attention to the visitors (the Magi), as to direct focus on the person visited (the infant Jesus). Whatever was the real reason for their visit, the Magi revealed to the whole world that a child has been born who was to become great and influential. Their gifts were as symbolic as their visit was as revealing. The gifts of Gold, Frankincense and Myrrh were prophetic, speaking of our Lord’s offices of King, Priest, and Saviour. Gold speaks of his Kingship; Frankincense was a spice used in the priestly duties; and myrrh was an embalming ointment anticipating Jesus’s death as a saviour.

Perhaps a very important point of meditation for us as Christians is on the statement credited to the Magi in the Gospel concerning the infant Jesus. They came looking for the infant King of the Jews because, according to them, “We saw his star as it rose”. What does this statement say to us as Christians? The first insight we must get from it is that, as Christians, it is not enough to be baptised; we must become manifest by letting our stars to arise and shine. This is exactly what the prophet Isaiah proposes in the first reading when he enjoined us to “arise and shine, for your light has come”. And we don’t become manifest by shouting on top of our voices that we are Christians, or believers, or prophets, or elders, etc., or by claiming to work miracles, as many do today. Remember, Jesus was still an infant when his star arose and shone. Therefore, we assume that he had not yet even learnt how to speak by then, and therefore, couldn’t have blown his own trumpet. We become manifest not by what we say but by who we are; by what we do; and by how we comport ourselves.

We have billions of Christians the world over; but relatively very few whose stars are shinning. We must ask ourselves questions. It is precisely because our stars are no longer shinning that we no longer make any impact in the world even with our preaching. No one preached to the Magi (who were identified as “pagans”). They didn’t need any preaching to notice that someone’s star was shining so brightly that they had to follow it and do homage to whoever owned that star. The world is in darkness, and the only way to illumine it is by letting our stars shine so brightly that even nonbelievers will be compelled to look for those who own the stars. In this way, without saying much, we shall have influenced and impacted a lot. The decision to allow your star to shine is yours to take. No one can do that for you. But until we allow our stars to shine, we might just remain nominal Christians only; and this, just by virtue of our baptism. Our world, however, is not in need of nominal Christians; it is in need of real Christians whose stars are shining brightly. Let us strive to be counted among the real Christians who, daily, illumine the world with brightly shining stars to dispel the darkness of the world.