Epiphany of the Lord
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Sermon for the Solemnity of Mary, the Mother of God
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Epiphany Matthew 2:1-12
Today’s gospel opens upon the first scene of a holy, and mysterious drama. The story is primarily theological; Baby Jesus is presented as the King / Messiah which was an ancient prophecy recognized by many nations, but ironically, not by the Jewish royalty. Study of Psalm 72 and Isaiah 60 tells us that the Magi came from Sheba, Ephah, Midian and Kedar, — all tribes of the Arabian peninsula.
The Jewish King in this story is Herod the Great, a son of non-Jewish parents who came to power through political intrigue and powerful Roman friends. This Herod was a consummate politician, notorious for his cruelty: he had 6 of his 10 wives murdered, some of his own children and many people in his court who found themselves in his regal way. There was a saying during his reign: “It is better to be Herod’s pig than his son.” Because he pretends to be a Jew, he would never kill a pig.
Fr. Dwight Longenecker, a converted Episcopal priest, did a deep study of this section of Matthew’s gospel. A result of his studies he showed that Matthew never wrote that there were three men, nor did he call them kings. Matthew does say they are ‘Wise Men’ or Magi, terms reserved for men learned in the sciences, and among the Persians these were especially the priestly caste; students of the prophecies from many different religions. The finest gold found in this ancient world came from Western Arabia. The bushes from which incense and myrrh are harvested only grow in the Arabian peninsula. Therefore, the three gifts that they bring are natural representations of their Arabian nation.
The Magi, aware of the Jewish prophecies of the Messiah King are therefore called by God, their mission being created by the manifestation of a particular bright star that was out of place among the planets and outside the ordinary constellations. Whatever they saw, it was unusual enough to pique their interest, we can also be assured it was somehow brought about by the hand of the Father to catch the attention of these learned men from among gentile elites, thereby making the birth an international event. These “Wise Men” are called through the means of their every day occupation, as they study and map the stars and planets obvious to the naked eye. God continues to call his children in various ways for different reasons today and always. It is important that we be attuned to God’s call for us? He has a plan for each of us and we strive to follow his will, his plan.
These Magi then set out for Israel to see and give homage to this new king of the prophecies. When they got to Israel they were shocked to find out that king Herod and all his court had no clue as to the possibility of the coming of a new king or Messiah. For Herod and his court were absorbed in the affairs of state and control of the their kingdom; a quest for wealth, pleasure and power. Surprisingly similar to politics of history even down to our day.
However, the religious leaders in the king’s court, the Scribes and the Pharisees, also knew the prophecies of the Messiah, in fact, they were able to tell Herod the exact time and place of his birth once he asked for it. For in those days, the Jews who did pray ended their prayers with the words ”we pray for the speedy arrival of the Messiah.” Yet, notice that not one of these religious leaders bothered to go to Bethlehem with the strangers of the East, They just agreed with Herod to send these foreigners to find the Messiah promised by Yahweh, whose coming they had been looking to for centuries. These religious leaders naively proceed to tell the Magi to report back to king Herod when they find the child.
The encounter of these Gentiles with the leaders of the Jewish people help us to recognize three different reactions to the birth of Jesus: hatred, indifference, and adoration. As to hatred, Herod and his court are already planning to destroy this upstart king which will be ultimately manifested in his mass murder of the innocents. Today there are many people who attack Christ and his Church because of their own selfish, sinful lives which end in the culture of death.
As to indifference, there are the Scribes and the Pharisees who are more interested in their status and importance within the culture. They are more interested in their own selfish gains than in the truth. There are many Christians who fall into this group today. They practice their religion for political power, recognition, or prestige given by certain segments of society. You may know some that work in Washington D.C. This gang of the lukewarm, are into religion only for themselves. They ignore Jesus and his Church teachings in their every day lives.
As to adoration we recognize the shepherds, the poor and these Magi that are searching for the truth of God’s prophecy. The shepherds and their children, are sent by hosts of angels to the Savior’s side; born for them as a child wrapped in swaddling clothes and lying in a manger. The shepherds bring to the child the only gifts they had: their worship, their love, and tears of joy for the coming of the Messiah. The gift of Gold recognized Jesus as a King. Frankincense recognized him as Divine, for incense was burnt as a symbol of prayer rising to the altar of God; and Myrrh, a perfume used in burial rituals, recognizing his human nature.
The Magi are the central stars of our story of Epiphany. They are pagans who did not know the true God of the Jews. Yet that true God revealed to them that the King he had promised to the Jews had come. My friends, we too know the true facts relative to Christ, his mission, and his kingdom. But like the leaders of the Jews of his day, we also can become absorbed in the evils of our culture, our world. Rather let us resolve to make the Magi our models, to follow them to Bethlehem and offer the Babe all that we have and are. For He will accept our offering and then we can return by another way, wiser and better Christians.
© JOSEPH MEILINGER 2025