By FR. RICHARD D. BRETON Jr.
Recently, we celebrated the Feast of the Epiphany, also known by some as The Feast of the Three Kings. The Epiphany is defined as “a manifestation of the Divine” as was seen by the Magi. Traditionally this feast is celebrated on January 6, but it has been moved to the Second Sunday within the Christmas Season. This year, it fell on Sunday, January 8, 2023.
As the Gospels relate, after Jesus was born, while still in Bethlehem, Magi from the East came to pay homage to the newborn King. These Magi from the East were Caspar, Balthazar, and Melchior. The Magi were kings themselves, and yet, they visited the ultimate King! These kings traveled long and far to see the Christ Child.
We know that they offered gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh. The three gifts had a spiritual meaning: gold as a symbol of kingship on Earth, frankincense (an incense) as a symbol of deity, and myrrh (an embalming oil) as a symbol of death. This dates to the time Origen in his Contra Celsum: “gold, as to a king; myrrh, as to one who was mortal; and frankincense, as to a God.”
These gifts were a sign of the two natures of God. Gold and the myrrh were attributed to Jesus’ human nature, while the frankincense was attributed to the Divine Nature. Gold was a sign of the wealth of the earthly king. In the Exodus story we saw how gold was used by Pharaoh and how the greed of the people had caused them to worship the golden calf. Myrrh, along with other spices, was used to prepare the earthly body for burial. Mary went with the disciple, Joseph of Arimathea, to prepare Jesus’ earthly Body for burial. The gift of frankincense was attributed to a deity and when burned it rose to the skies, it was thought to reach the gods. The gift of frankincense offered to the Christ Child pointed to His Divine Nature.
There was, however, another gift that was offered to the Christ Child. The Magi offered the gift of themselves. They put aside their own kingships and recognized the Kingship of Jesus Christ. After their visit with Jesus they departed for home by another way.
What can we learn from these true “wise men”? We learn that the Feast of the Epiphany is for us the feast of conversion. The wise men journeyed long and far to meet Christ. We are all on the same journey. As we travel the path of life, we can encounter many roadblocks along the way and last year no one was immune to the obstacles during their journey. These roadblocks and obstacles may have included temptation, fear, anxiety, and the struggle with sin. These are often detours along the way that distract us from keeping our eyes on the “manifestation of Christ” in our lives.
But, unlike the Magi, so many have succumbed to the “manifestations of the world” and have lost their way. We need to keep focused on the path lead by the star! The Magi followed the star, we follow Jesus! We need to keep our eyes focused on the Lord.
Having followed the star, they reached the place where Jesus was. This was a significant moment for the Magi. They reached the finish line! And the prize would be unlike any on Earth. They met Mary, Joseph, and the Babe of our Redemption. Imagine how they must have felt! Imagine the joy! There they were in the presence of God! Do we feel the same joy when we are in the presence of our Lord? Do you remember the Visitation? As the sound of Mary’s voice reached Elizabeth, the infant within her womb leapt for joy! Whenever we encounter Jesus our hearts should leap for joy as well! In the sacraments we meet Jesus, and we speak to Him in our prayers. As John the Baptist leapt for joy, we all need to experience this gladness and we have the capacity to encounter this joy daily. All we need to remember is that every encounter with Jesus is a moment of joy.
After their visit, they returned home by another way. This statement is true for us all, or it should be! The gift Jesus offers us of His presence in our lives is life changing. This gift is what we call conversion. Why do you think the Magi didn’t return home retracing their steps? Because they couldn’t! There was no way for them to return to their old way of life. This was because they were transformed and renewed!
We are all called to conversion. An epiphany is a moment in which we recognize within ourselves something new, a life-changing moment. The Magi didn’t know how or why, but they were transformed by encountering Jesus. Have we recognized a change in ourselves?
The question the Feast of the Epiphany asks us is this: Are we ready to meet Christ? Will we open our hearts and allow the conversion Christ calls us to? Living the journey of faith is never easy, but it can be done. Sometimes the journey is difficult, sometimes the journey seems easier, and sometimes it is pure joy! Whatever journey we find ourselves on, we will encounter Jesus at some point. I promise you that! If we are open to Him working in our lives, He can transform us into something amazing! Rest assured; Jesus will always lead us to where He needs us to be.
The Magi followed the star, and it led them to a newness of life. We need to follow Christ and He will renew us in faith, hope, and love! We are all called to conversion! May the coming year be a time of true conversion of heart so that we, too, may return home by another way!
I have included the Epiphany Proclamation here to remind us of the significant moments in the Church’s liturgical calendar that offer us opportunities to encounter Christ.
Epiphany Proclamation
Dear brothers and sisters,
the glory of the Lord has shone upon us,
and shall ever be manifest among us,
until the day of his return.
Through the rhythms of times and seasons
let us celebrate the mysteries of salvation.
Let us recall the year’s culmination,
the Easter Triduum of the Lord:
his last supper, his crucifixion, his burial,
and his rising celebrated
between the evening of the Fourteenth day of April
and the evening of the Sixth of April,
Easter Sunday being on the Ninth day of April.
Each Easter — as on each Sunday —
the Holy Church makes present the great and saving deed
by which Christ has forever conquered sin and death.
From Easter are reckoned all the days we keep holy.
Ash Wednesday, the beginning of Lent,
will occur on the Twenty-Second day of February.
The Ascension of the Lord will be commemorated on
Sunday, the Twenty-First day of May or Thursday, the Eighteenth day of May.
Pentecost, joyful conclusion of the season of Easter,
will be celebrated on the Twenty-Eighth day of May.
And this year the First Sunday of Advent will be
on the Third Day of December 2023.
Likewise the pilgrim Church proclaims the Passover of Christ
in the feasts of the holy Mother of God,
in the feasts of the Apostles and Saints,
and in the commemoration of the faithful departed.
To Jesus Christ, who was, who is, and who is to come,
Lord of time and history, be endless praise, forever and ever.
Amen.
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