The Epiphany of the Lord
The Magi's journey reveals that Jesus' salvation is for all humanity, transcending borders. Their gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh symbolize Christ's kingship, death, and salvation.
Gospel according to Matthew 2:1-12
When Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea, in the days of King Herod, behold, magi from the east arrived in Jerusalem, saying, “Where is the newborn king of the Jews? We saw his star at its rising and have come to do him homage.” When King Herod heard this, he was greatly troubled, and all Jerusalem with him. Assembling all the chief priests and the scribes of the people, he inquired of them where the Christ was to be born. They said to him, “In Bethlehem of Judea, for thus it has been written through the prophet: And you, Bethlehem, land of Judah, are by no means least among the rulers of Judah; since from you shall come a ruler, who is to shepherd my people Israel.” Then Herod called the magi secretly and ascertained from them the time of the star’s appearance. He sent them to Bethlehem and said, “Go and search diligently for the child. When you have found him, bring me word, that I too may go and do him homage.” After their audience with the king they set out. And behold, the star that they had seen at its rising preceded them, until it came and stopped over the place where the child was. They were overjoyed at seeing the star, and on entering the house they saw the child with Mary his mother. They prostrated themselves and did him homage. Then they opened their treasures and offered him gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh. And having been warned in a dream not to return to Herod, they departed for their country by another way.
Reflections
The first verse from this Sunday’s Gospel begins with the journey of the Magi, who came from the East. These three men are traditionally believed to have been scholars or priests, and while their identities do not specifically appear in the biblical text, tradition holds them to be Melchior, Gaspar, and Balthazar, from Persia, India, and Africa respectively. Their diverse backgrounds reveal a greater Biblical theme, showing that the mission of Jesus is not limited to Israel, or to the Jewish people. Rather, Jesus’ salvation is for all of humanity. Regardless of cultural backgrounds, it is clear that everyone desires an encounter with the Messiah. No one is excluded from God’s grace and salvation, and Jesus’ message transcends all borders.
The Magi are described as Wise Men because they knew how to interpret astrological phenomena, like the rising of the star. Throughout many ancient cultures, astrology was closely related to religious practice, and celestial phenomena were often interpreted as signs of events to come. When they saw the Star of Bethlehem, the three Magi interpreted it as signifying the birth of a great king. This is why this passage is called “the Epiphany of the Lord”: The birth of Jesus was revealed to the Gentiles.
The Magi went to visit King Herod, who tried to make a deal with them so that he, too, could meet Jesus. But the Magi received a warning in a dream not to return to him, and they returned home another way. The assembly of the chief priests and the scribes marks the beginning of Jesus’ persecution, seen throughout his ministry – From now on, the religious leaders will be looking for ways to catch Jesus making a controversial statement or contradicting their beliefs. The dream is an example of Divine providence: The Magi put their trust in God to help them make the wisest choice and to guide them, even when they found themselves led through an unusual path. Additionally, this event demonstrates that no amount of scheming, wickedness or deceit can take advantage of God’s plan.
The visitors brought three gifts with them: Gold, Frankincense, and Myrrh. This is where the tradition of exchanging gifts during the Christmas season likely came from. It is important to emphasize that receiving gifts is not the full meaning of Christmas, although it is a time to help those in need.
Gold was a gift often given to great kings. The gift of gold shows the royalty of Christ, that He is the King of all Creation. Frankincense is often burned as incense, and it was often used ceremonially to consecrate priests and sacred objects (Exodus 30:34-36). Myrrh was used in embalming, and it is a symbol of death. But why is a symbol of death being presented to a newborn child? In fact, this gift foreshadows what is yet to come: Jesus is the Son of God, and He will die and rise again for the ultimate salvation of humanity. Furthermore, this gift demonstrates the greater theme of salvation, which is made possible through Jesus’ willingness to endure suffering.
The Three Kings were on a journey of faith. While they may not have known exactly where they were going, they knew that they were out to find a great king. When they found the Baby Jesus with His Holy Family, they worshipped Him and offered Him gifts. May Jesus be our star to guide us in our journey of faith. With Christ at our side, we know that we can overcome any obstacle along the way, like the Wise Men overcame King Herod. As we return from the celebration of Christmas, let us search for a deeper relationship with God. And may Jesus’ message of peace, love, joy, and hope remain in our hearts.