With the celebration of the Solemnity of the Epiphany of the Lord, we are a week away to the end of the Christmas season. Liturgically, the Christmas season wraps up at the Feast of the Baptism of Jesus, which is referred to as the “second epiphany.” It’s interesting that the whole Christmastide is really the first 30 years of Jesus’ life! We celebrate his first 30 years of earthly existence in the four weeks of the Christmas season. The Christmas season is not just about the baby born in the manger of Bethlehem, but it also includes his infancy, his teenage life and the early adult life of Jesus, just before he started his public ministry at the age of 30.
The name epiphany comes from the Greek word “epiphania” which literally means “to appear” or “to manifest.” The solemnity of the Epiphany recalls the manifestation of Jesus to the three Magi from the East who paid homage to the Child-King bringing gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh.
Who were these three wise men from the East? The Greek historian Herodotus wrote that the Magi were originally a Median tribe. The Medes were part of the empire of the Persians. They tried to overthrow the Persians, but failed. From that time, the Magi as a tribe ceased to have any ambitions for power and prestige, and they became a tribe of priests. If in Israel, we had the Levites as the priestly tribe; in Persia at that time, they had the Magi. They became the teachers and instructors of the Persian king. In Persia, no temple sacrifice could be offered unless one of the Magi was present. They became men of holiness and wisdom. These Magi were men who were skilled in philosophy, medicine and natural science. They were also soothsayers or interpreters of dreams, especially in the Persian royal household.
The first people to whom Jesus manifested himself were part of the Chosen People of God: Mary, Joseph and the shepherds. They were Israelites. But, with the arrival of the three Magi from the East, the manifestation of God in the flesh expanded to the rest of humanity. God didn’t just come for the Chosen People of Israel, but he truly came for everyone as represented by the three wise men. The presence of the Three Wise Men, who were not Jews and who were culturally different from Christ, probably not even speaking the same
language as Christ or not even sharing the Jewish faith where Christ immediately found himself – proves the universality of the desire of God to communicate himself. He isn’t just a God of the few, but of All. In short, the visit of the Magi was really the visit of the rest of humanity to the manger. Their visit became our visit to the humble abode of Jesus. As Christ continuously manifests himself to us, especially in the Eucharist in a very intimate way, may we also manifest him to others by leading a life reflective of the Gospel values. In this way, as people see us, they will also see Christ, thus perpetuating a continuous “epiphany” until we reach our own special epiphany with God in heaven. – Fr. Cary