Cycle B - Year II:  

7 January 2018: Solemnity of the Epiphany of the Lord 

(Liturgical Color: White)

Readings:

First Reading:        Isaiah 60:1-6

Second Reading:   Ephesians 3:2-3a, 5-6

Gospel:Please Read  Matthew 2:1-12

The Lord's Epiphany: Salvation is for all!

 Today is the Feast of the Lord's Epiphany, or traditionally known as the Feast of the Three Kings. According to tradition, it is our last chance to receive Christmas gifts, in case we didn't receive any last Christmas. But it is unlikely though because Filipinos are known as generous and lavish people, especially during the Christmas season.

The word "epiphany" means manifestation or appearance of God in person like us through the humanity of Jesus our Lord. In the Lord's epiphany we see the plan of God to give His only Son as King and Savior, not just for the Jewish people who are God's chosen people in the Old Testament, but to all nations as well. Because the three kings were foreigner and non-Jews. Thus, the implication of today's feast is that the Lord Jesus comes to both the Jews and the Gentiles (or non-Jews), including our present generation of believers in Christ, so that all may find true and last peace with God.

The bible account of the journey of the three kings (or Magi, or Wise Men) is one of the favorite stories in the Gospel. It is a story of the journey of life, of guidance on the way, of delight in finding faith and God. A star started them on the journey and guided them to the end. Like our faith, the star which we share at baptism is the promise of God to guide us through life. 

We will hear from Matthew's narrative about the three kings looking for the infant Jesus in order to pay Him homage with the gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh. The Western Church has assigned them the names of Melchor (believed to be a Babylonian scholar), Caspar (a Persian scholar), and Balthazar (an Arab scholar). Because these three kings brought gifts to the baby Jesus, by tradition today is also considered the last day of sharing Christmas gifts to our loved ones.

The gifts of the three kings have symbolic significance to the divine identity and mission of Jesus. That is to say, gold has great value which symbolizes the kingship of Jesus. Frankincense is a perfume, and the symbol of the divinity of Jesus. And myrrh is a common anointing oil which symbolizes the sacrificial death of Jesus on the cross that brought about salvation of the whole humanity. These gifts they brought to the infant Jesus speak of their respect for His divine identity and the realism about His death at the hands of humankind.

What is the relevance of the Feast of the Epiphany to our lives today?  Let us consider the following reflections:

Epiphany tells us that God became visible and audible for us in the person of Jesus, who is the human image of the invisible God. So that even to our generation we experience God living among us and within us in the Holy Eucharist.

Epiphany makes known to us the way to the Father through Jesus Christ. He leads our path in our journey in this present life to our heavenly home. As Jesus Himself declares: "I am the way, the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father except through me." (Jn 14:6)

Epiphany reveals to us God's plan for all men and women to be saved, from the fall of our first parents Adam and Eve, by believing that Jesus is the way, the truth and the life. Because God's kingdom is meant for all people of all generations.

In sum, as we conclude our celebration of the Christmas season, we pray that the examples of the three kings be our guide in our own spiritual pilgrimage in the New Year 2018. Like them, we too acknowledge Jesus as our Lord and Savior and do Him homage. And may the Lord's revelation shine on everyone so that the gift of salvation may be shared by all.

Happy Feast of the Epiphany of the Lord to everyone. And thank you for a moment with God.

Ad Jesum per Mariam!