Epiphany

The Epiphany is the greatest of feasts: Advent and Christmas prepare us for today. In the early Church it ranked with Easter and Pentecost, which is why we solemnly read today the proclamation of Easter. Although we now emphasise the coming of the Wise Men and Christ’s manifestation to the Gentiles, the Epiphany celebrates the threefold revelation of Christ to the world: his Birth at Bethlehem, his Baptism in the Jordan and the first Miracle at Cana in Galilee. Known as Easter in Winter, it was the day set apart for the rites of Christian Initiation.

Those who should have known better, for they belonged to the chosen people and had the Scriptures to guide them, King Herod and his court knew nothing about Jesus. Caught up in their own interests, they were ignorant of his birth and, when they heard the news from the Magi, their reaction was the massacre of innocent children to rid themselves of the Christ Child. Those who came from afar and had nothing to guide them but a star, “were filled with great joy” when they saw its light. “They saw the Child with Mary his mother and falling to their knees, they adored him.” By their gifts they showed the depth of their faith and generosity of their love. They recognised the Child to be the Messiah King, God incarnate and Saviour of the world. When they speak of Jesus, they use the very words that on Good Friday will be nailed to the Cross: “The King of the Jews”.

What about us? Would we cross deserts and mountains to follow a star? If it came to rest over a stable, would we stop and go in, or would we rush on, looking for something grander and more in keeping with our concept of God? If we saw a poor child in a manger, would we kneel and adore or would we put away our expensive gifts and keep them for someone else? Do we accept John the Baptist’s testimony about the voice from heaven saying, “This is my beloved Son, listen to him”? Do we follow Our Lady’s instruction to the disciples at Cana, “Do whatever he tells you”?

The Epiphany invites us to live the gift of faith with total conviction. In the Ambrosian Sacramentary we find this prayer over the gifts for today’s Mass. “Receive, Lord, in your goodness this sacrifice of praise that we offer as we celebrate the beginnings of our vocation to salvation.” In Christ, God has called us to salvation. That is our vocation. By the light of a star the Magi discovered their vocation. They were called by God to follow his light, for which they had to forsake everything else. In obedience to his will, they fixed their gaze on the star, which led them to adore Christ, who is the light of the world, God from God, Light from Light, true God from true God.

I believe that we, too, have seen the star and have followed its light. In obedience to God’s call, we have embraced our own vocation to salvation. In the stable at Bethlehem, in the Babe lying in the manger, we too have recognised the Word made flesh and we kneel in adoration with Mary and Joseph, the shepherds, the angels and the Magi. The light of the star leads us to Christ, who is the light of the world. In Christ all has been revealed. In him we find more than we can ever ask for or desire. To Him alone be glory, praise and thanksgiving for ever. Amen.