EPIPHANY OF THE LORD

Today is the twelfth day of Christmas, Epiphany.  We celebrate on this Sunday those visitors who came seeking the newborn King of the Jews. That is all we really know about them from sacred scripture, though the enlargement of storytelling and centuries of tradition have given us many add-ons. Think, for example, of the song, "We three kings of Orient are, Bearing gifts we come from afar ...". There are three gifts, so there must have been three visitors, right? The gifts are precious and expensive, thus the visitors are wealthy and important men: sages or astrologers or kings. They are magi who found Jesus by following a star, thus they were learned and wise. Where are they from on their camels, coming such a long distance? Perhaps Persia or Africa or distant Arabia? One brought gold, symbolizing the kingship of Christ. A second bore frankincense, for worshipping a god. The third, myrrh, to prepare for burial.  Their imagined names were added centuries later: Caspar, Melchior, Balthasar.

The first chapter of the Gospel of Matthew records the genealogy of Jesus, placing him solidly in the House of David, the family of Abraham. Prepare the way for the long awaited Messiah, the King of the Jews! But today we discover something new: Gentiles looking for the Savior. He is to be savior and king for us all, welcoming everyone. 

Epiphany is meaningful for us today for marking the first time when this child is revealed to all the world. These visitors may have greeted Mary and Joseph in Aramaic or Hebrew or Greek – or in a hundred other languages. We do not know their age or the color of their skin or country of origin.  But we do know that from then on it does not matter. Jesus has come for the Gentiles, too. All are welcome in the Kingdom of God. Years later when Jesus commissions his apostles and disciples, they are sent out to all the world. 

These followers of the star manifested the Christ to us. We might bring home our first reading from Isaiah by saying, "Rise up in splendor," Community of St. Matthew! "Your light has come, the glory of the Lord shines upon you." How shall we respond? On our knees in awe and gratitude, singing today’s responsorial psalm: "Lord, every nation on earth will adore you.”

The word epiphany comes from the ancient Greek, meaning “manifestation” or “sudden insight.” Today we might call this an “aha moment.” Today’s feast – Epiphany – can be our "Aha! moment.” 

–Sandy Zajdel

Send Us Forth are reflections written by St. Matthew parishioners and friends.