Today’s question is a recycled one. It’s one I asked on Epiphany twenty years ago, in January 1989. So, a few of you who are really “old timers” may remember both the question and the correct answer. And some of you may know the answer anyway.
Actually, the question is really an experiment. It requires a physical response from each one of you. So, are you ready? The experiment is this … I want each one of you to point towards the East. Yes, that’s the question: which direction is East?
As I expected, there seems to be a variety of opinions. The reason I asked this question twenty years ago … and for the current generation of parish members … is because, in today’s reading, we heard that the Magi came from the East and I wanted to know if you would look in the right direction to see them coming. I’ll tell you later which direction it really is.
As you know, today is Epiphany, the day we celebrate the manifestation of God, the public or “open” appearance of God on earth. Actually, there are several epiphanies that we can celebrate. There is the birth of Jesus, himself, that we celebrate on Christmas Day. Today, we celebrate the Epiphany of the Lord … his manifestation to the Gentiles, to non-Jews. Next Sunday, we close the Christmas season with the Baptism of the Lord when Jesus was made manifest as the chosen son of God. To a certain extent, the Feast of the Transfiguration is also an Epiphany. Sometimes, Easter and Pentecost are included as celebrations of the manifestation of God among us. So, there are many so-called “Epiphanies” when we recognize God is with us.
But for now, I’d like to reflect on today’s “Epiphany of the Lord.” To begin, let’s take a look at the five Kings we heard about in today’s Gospel. Yes, that’s right … there are five Kings. There are the Three Magi from the East. And there is also King Herod. And, finally, there is the king the Magi were in search of … “the newborn king of the Jews.”
First the Magi. Were you aware that in their journey to Jerusalem, the Magi had made use of the original GPS … the original Global Positioning System? Yes, it was called “the star of Bethlehem.” But, as with a modern GPS, they were confused about the details of the final location and had to ask for local help. So, they went to King Herod and his advisors. These three Magi (who may have been astrologers, wise sages, or even Kings) … these searchers for the newborn king of the Jews wanted to do him homage. And just what is meant by “doing homage?”
Homage is an ancient custom. It was performed between a royal lord and a humble subject. It was a ritual in which the subject would swear eternal faithfulness and trust to the royal lord in return for protection by the superior lord. The subject would say, in effect, “I am completely yours in body and soul,” and the master would reply “I will protect you always.”
And so, here, some two thousand years ago, we find three gentile wisemen, three leaders of a non-Jewish origin, seeking protection from a newborn child they named as “king of the Jews.” Perhaps it’s not difficult to understand Herod’s reaction to such news, since he viewed himself as the “king of the Jews.” And so how does King Herod react? With cunning and lies. He says he, too, wants to do homage to this newborn child. However, Herod seeks information from the Magi so that he can accomplish his real objective: the obliteration of this newborn king.
But just as Joseph, the foster father of Jesus, had been counseled in his own dreams, the Magi, too, were told in a dream not to return to Herod but to depart for their own country directly. Nevertheless, Herod, according to Matthew’s gospel, followed up his personal desires by killing all the boys recently born in Bethlehem.
Five kings. Three of them saw a star and followed it to do homage to a newborn king. One of them, hearing of the same star and what it portended, was frightened he would lose his power and so destroyed innocent children. The Magi, beholding the light of the star of Bethlehem, accepted the Christ child. Herod, beholding the same light, rejected the Christ child. Three kings brought gifts. One king brought death. And the Fifth King brought the light of the star, itself, into the world.
How often do we have an opportunity for similar choices of acceptance or rejection of the message we receive about the king who promises us light and life? When I am offered the light of the star of Bethlehem, do I bring gifts of life, or do I bring forms of death? Do I offer my gifts of time, talent and treasure as freely as the Magi offered their gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh? Or do I use them to gain control over others, even if innocent people might suffer because of what I do, or fail to do? Do I offer my resources to help others or to abuse others? Do I offer my time freely to benefit my family, friends and co-workers, or do I waste my time in harmful pursuits on my own behalf or to the detriment of others? Do I react to errors with forgiveness, or with revenge? When problems occur in my home life, do I respond with greater commitment and fidelity, or do I yield to despair and infidelity? When stress enters my life, do I turn to prayer, or to drugs and alcohol?
And when my star shines brightly and good things happen to me, do I rejoice and thank God, or do I become disturbed because I expected even more and curse God and others for my not getting enough? The three kings saw their starlight and followed it to a greater King to do him homage. Another king saw the starlight and pursued a deadly course of action.
A few minutes ago, I asked you to point toward the East. And what is the correct direction for the East? If you pointed towards the direction behind the altar – you would have been correct. Even though our church has a circular form, our sanctuary is built, believe it or not, in a traditional pattern. Ancient churches were aligned so that during the morning service, the people would face East and the rising sun. These early Christians were reminded of the words we heard proclaimed by Isaiah the prophet in our first reading: “Rise up in splendor, Jerusalem! Your light has come, the glory of the Lord shines upon you.” Isaiah goes on to remind his people: “Then you shall be radiant at what you see, your heart shall throb and overflow …”
These early Christians saw themselves as the “new Jerusalem.” They heard these words as being addressed to them directly: “Rise up in splendor, you Christians. Your light has come, the glory of the Lord shines upon you.” Today when we face the East and behold the light of the rising sun, are we reminded of the rising of the Son of God. When we see the light of our star each day, are we reminded of the Epiphany of our Lord … his manifestation, his appearance among us?
We are called to do him homage: to proclaim: “I am completely yours in body and soul.” And to hear him respond: “I will protect you always.” And hearing these words, if we, ourselves, face the light of Christ and if we allow his light to shine upon us as we make our choices and live out our lives in this new year of 2009, it is then that each one of us can be an Epiphany, an appearance of Christ, to others.
Epiphany of the Lord, January 4, 2009
Is 60:1-6; Eph 3:2-3a, 5-6; Mt 2:1-12