Epiphany (January 8, 2023)

 

Guides to the Messiah

Matthew 2: 1-12

The magi’s guides to the Messiah include a star, Scripture, and people. Among the people,there is even a malicious tyrant.

 

God works through people, events, and creation to draw and guide us to God.

Perhaps as we celebrate Epiphany, we might want to recall who and what that have guided us to God, and to thank God for them. 

 

 

Image source: www.agnusday.org

Epiphany (January 3, 2021)

 

The Inconvenience of Meeting God

Matthew 2: 1-12

 

Two groups of people have a chance to meet the newborn king of the Jews.

 

The magi “saw the star at its rising.”  They leave their homes and embark on their journey.  They disrupted their lives to “do homage” to this newborn king.  They could do that because they see the newborn king the fulfillment of a promise, of their hopes and probably their lifework.

 

King Herod and Jerusalem are “greatly troubled” at the prospect of this newborn king.  They presume the newborn king comes to threaten their routines, their power, and their positions.  It seems no surprise that neither Herod nor any of the chief priests and the scribes travel the five-mile trip to Bethlehem to do homage to the newborn King. 

 

How do I deal with the inconvenience of meeting God in my life, such as when I know I need to “make time” for God?  Or when somebody needs my help, asks for my time?   How do I react when God, through a person or a situation, invites me to change my thoughts, my attitude, or my way of doing things?

 

Image by Carmelo Garofalo, found at twitter.com/Cindy_Wooden

Epiphany of the Lord (January 5, 2020)

Our Guiding Star

Matthew 2: 1-12

The miraculous star and various people assisted the magi in their search for the newborn King.  God works through people, things, and events to guide us on our journey to Him. 

In this new year, let’s pray that we may be more receptive to God’s manifold guidance as God continues to draw us to God.

In particular, God gives us a kind of GPS in the Gospels, Prayer, and the Sacraments, which we celebrate and receive in the community of the Church.  May this GPS be the star to guide us to the King of all nations.

Image source:  www.agnusday.org

Epiphany of the Lord

Readings 

Commentary

Matthew 2:1-12

Ask

The magi ask and receive guidance on their search for the Divine Child.

Some of those who help them are religious people, such as the chief priests and the scribes.

But not all.  Herod definitely is not.

God indeed works through all kinds of people and events, in this case the appearance of the star, to guide us to our Savior.   

We simply need to ask and be open.  

Image source:  www.agnusday.org

Epiphany of the Lord

Commentary

Matthew 2:1 – 12

Two Responses to the Newborn King

There are two opposite responses to the news of the newborn king of the Jews.

The first response is that of Herod and the chief priests and scribes. The second is the response from Mary and the magi.

Herod is afraid of losing his power and control to the newborn king of the Jews. Because of this fear, Herod plots to remove the threat to his throne. The chief priests and the scribes later would have the same fear. Jesus became a challenge to their religious authority. And like Herod, they would plot to do away with Jesus.

Mary and the magi do not have much power and control. Mary was a simple young woman in a patriarchal society. She comes from a town of little significant. (We learn this about Nazareth in the responses various people gave about Jesus' background). Religiously, the magi were considered outsiders.

Unlike Herod, the chief priests and the scribes, Mary recognizes God's mercy and generosity in the gift of Jesus. She would praise God for having looked upon her lowliness. The magi acknowledge their ignorance and have the humility to ask for help and guidance. They rejoice when they are led to the little child. As a gesture of subordination, they prostrate themselves and does him homage.

Epiphany of the Lord (January 3, 2016)

Readings

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The Epiphany of the Lord

Commentary

Matthew 2: 1-12

Big Deal and No Big Deal

This is not about the once popular TV gameshow.

It is about God’s way of making known God’s salvation.

It’s no big deal:  Bethlehem, not Jerusalem.  A house, not the king’s palace or the Temple.  Common people: an ordinary couple and their newborn son, not the king, the chief priests or the scribes.

But it’s a big deal.  In fact, it is the big deal:  the presence of God’s only Son is made known to the magi, who represent the gentiles.  The event marks the beginning of God’s salvation for all nations. 

A big star for that. 

With God, the simple and common things become a big deal. 

The light of God continues to shine in us and through us, broken, and insignificant.  Thus, we all become the light, God’s light, by which all nations walk (1^st Reading, Isaiah 60: 3)

The Epiphany of the Lord (January 4, 2015)

Readings

Image source:  Facebook post by Fr. Adam MacDonald, SVD

Epiphany

Commentary

Matthew 2: 1 – 12

What and Who Point Us to the “King of the Jews”

From this Gospel passage, we can list the people and things that help the magi in their search for the Savior:

1. “We saw his star … and have come…”:  the magi’s longing for God, their studies and search

2. The star: things in nature and creation that point us to God

3. King Herod, and the chief priests and the scribes of the people, and those the magi encounter in Jerusalem: other people, including those who oppose or find the Messiah/God a threat, and those who do not believe in God.

4. Scriptures

5. Conversation with others, including fellow searchers (the other magi) and others who help us and walk with us to Jesus

6. Mary and Joseph (though Joseph is not mentioned explicitly in this passage, we can presume that he’s there): Mary and the holy people who lead us to God

7: A Dream: direct signs from God, both natural and supernatural ones

In my life, who and what lead me to God?
And do I allow God to use me to lead others to God?

Epiphany - A (January 5, 2014)

Readings

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Epiphany (January 6, 2013)

Commentary

Matthew 2: 1-12

Our Guides to the King

In Matthew's account of their journey to "the newborn king of the Jews," the magi received guidance from at least three sources.

(1) People.  The magi, while uncertain to us how many they were, did the search together.  They were there with and for one another searching.  Then, there were Herod, "the chief priests and the scribes of the people."  In the case of Herod, he meant harm to the child Jesus, who he considered a threat to his thone.  Yet, even Herod and his evil plot, in God's providence, become helpful for the magi on their search.

(2) Events of life:  The magi must not have been the only people who saw the star.  It is most likely that the magi were well-learned men.  But, there must be other scholars at that time also.  Yet, they were the only people who recognized its significance.  They were seeking for the Truth.  They seemed to know that there was something more than what human knowledge could provide.  Therefore, "they were overjoyed at seeing the star."

(3) Scripture: The words of the prophets pinpoint the location of the Messiah's birth.  It is puzzling, however, that Matthew gives no indication of whether the chief priest and the scribes went to Bethlehm and paid homage to the Child or not.  They were familiar with the Scripture.  But why didn't they recognize its fulfilment?  In contrast, the magi, as Gentiles, received and understood God's words.  Was it because they were more open and eager? Was it because they recognize that their lives would be unfulfilled until they have encountered the One promised by Scripture?  Scripture speaks to us only when we acknowledges who it is that speaks to us through the words of Scriptures.

May we be open to God who draws us to Him with the guides He has already provided for us.

Epiphany of the Lord (Jan. 4, 2009)

Readings