Cycle B - Year II:  

07 January 2024: Solemnity of the Lord's Epiphany 

(Liturgical color: White)

Readings:

First Reading:        Isaiah 60:1-6

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

Gospel:  Please read  Matthew 2:1-12 

Visit of Royalties!

St. Luke tells us about the humble birth of our Lord Jesus, the King of kings, Lord of lords, and Creator of the whole universe. While in Bethlehem, Mary gave birth to Jesus, wrapped Him in swaddling clothes and laid Him in the manger. (Lk 2:6-7)  His first visitors were the poor shepherds keeping the night watch over their flock. (Lk 2:8)   

But today St. Matthew tells us an amazing story, from the humble birth of Jesus in a manger to the visit of royalties.  The Universal Church celebrates this Sunday the Solemnity of the Lord's Epiphany. It used to be more popularly known as Feast of the Three Kings (also referred to as Magi or Wise Men.)

Let us reflect on the significance of the Lord's Epiphany.

"Epiphany" means manifestation or appearance of God in person through the humanity of Jesus our Lord. We see in the Lord's epiphany the plan of God to give His only Son as King and Savior, not just to the Jews who are God's chosen people in the Old Testament, but to all nations as well. It is significant that the three kings were non-Jews and were considered as foreigners. That is why the implication of today's Feast is that our Lord Jesus Christ comes to both Jews and Gentiles (on non-Jews), including our present generation of believers in Christ that all may find true and lasting peace with God Almighty.

The journey of the three kings as we read in the Biblical account is one of the favorite stories in the Gospel even in our youth. It is a story of journey of life, of guidance on the way, of delight in finding faith and God. A bright star started the three kings on their journey and guided them to the end of their destination where they found the infant Jesus in a manger. It is the same with our faith, the star which we share at baptism is the promise of God to guide us through our journey in this life.

In St. Matthew's account the three kings were looking for the infant Jesus in order to pay Him homage with their gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh. The Wester Church assigned names to the three kings as Melchor (believed to be a Babylonian scholar), Caspar (a Persian scholar), and Balthazar (an Arab scholar).

Now, there are symbolic significance to these gifts from the three kings to the divine identity and mission of Jesus: 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 which brought salvation of the whole humanity.  So these gifts speak of their respect for Jesus' divine identity and the realism of His death at the hands of humankind.

The Feast of the Lord's Epiphany continues to be relevant in our lives today: 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 Sacrament of the Holy Eucharist.

Also, 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.

The journey of the three kings in search of the baby Jesus is our guide in our own spiritual pilgrimage in the New Year 2024. May the wisdom of these wise men guide us in our search for true leaders. May the Lord's revelation or epiphany shine on everyone so that the gift of salvation may be shared by all.

This Sunday is also Pro Nigritis or for the support of the Church's African Mission. Mass collections will be forwarded to Rome for the African Missions. Let us pray for the African Missions and support their material needs.

TRIVIA: The three kings brought gifts to the baby Jesus, so today by tradition is also considered the last day of sharing Christmas gifts to our loved ones, in case we missed doing so on Christmas Day.

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

Ad Jesum per Mariam!