Today the Church celebrates the Solemnity of the Epiphany of our Lord. The word "epiphany" comes from the Greek meaning "showing" or "manifestation." Our Lord’s birth, first announced by angels to the humble and poor shepherds, is now announced by a miraculous star to the Magi, the Three Kings from the East. The shepherds were faithful Jews and the Wise Men were Gentiles, men of good will. From the beginning of our Lord’s life, He wished to manifest or reveal Himself first to His own, the Jews, but also to foreigners, the Gentiles or nations. These Astrologers from the Orient represented the nations of the world, the people of different religions. They came in homage to the newborn King of the Jews, bringing mysteriously significant gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh.

We have much to learn from this Gospel reading. According to tradition, the Three Wise Men, were indeed kings, who studied the stars (not like modern day astrology) and were acquainted with the writings of the Hebrew Prophets. They must have been anticipating the coming of the long promised Messiah, for all three had observed the rising of an unusual star, and with divine insight, understood its meaning. They set out with all their caravans of camels and arrived, after a very long and difficult journey, at Herod’s palace in Jerusalem, where they inquired about "the newborn King of the Jews." One can only imagine the shock with which King Herod received this news from such illustrious and wealthy travelers! Herod was the puppet king of the Jews and had the support of the Roman armies to prove it.

What about this phrase " a newborn King of the Jews?" At His birth, Jesus is called the King of the Jews, and so it would be at His Death, when Pontius Pilate would inscribe "Jesus of Nazareth, King of the Jews" on a plaque over the Head of the Crucified.

Notice how ignorant Herod was about the religion of his own subjects, so much so, that he had to inquire about the prophecy, which all faithful Jews were eagerly longing for: the coming of the Messiah. Upon finding out that the Christ was to be born in Bethlehem, he secretly met with the Magi, and with lying lips deceitfully asked them to inform him of where the child was, so that he, too, may go and offer homage. Of course, we know the real reason why Herod wanted to know. No sooner was our Savior born, than evil men were already seeking to kill Him! So perverse was this puppet king, Herod that he would soon set about killing every baby boy in Bethlehem, in order to secure his throne from all rivals, real or imagined. Herod believed in no god, but political power, which he falsely and basely worshipped.

How different were the sentiments of the Three Kings who were "overjoyed" at seeing the mysterious star resting over the place where the child was. At last, their long and arduous journey was at an end, they had found their Treasure, their Pearl of great price, for Whom they had left everything to seek and to find. How holy these men must have been, to be so blessed, as to be called upon to represent all the kings of the world before the manger-throne of the Infant King! Notice also that the Gospel informs us that Infant King was not without His Queen and Mother, Mary.

How surprised or shocked the Kings of the East must have been to see the newborn King of the Jews surrounded by such poverty! Poverty that they were eager to relieve by offering their homage and gifts. Gold symbolized that Jesus was indeed a King, a descendant of King David. Frankincense symbolized that Jesus was the Eternal High Priest in the line of Melchisedek. Myrrh, which was a very expensive ointment used to prepare the dead for burial, symbolized that Jesus was the Prophet of prophets, Who would suffer like the prophets before Him.

These gifts represent that Jesus was King, Priest, and Prophet. Therefore it was His divine right to rule, to sanctify, and to teach. These three divine Offices of governing, sanctifying, and teaching have been handed on by our Lord to His Church, our Mother and Teacher, Who exercises Her divine powers with the Authority of Christ, at Whose Name every knee must bend.

In this liturgy, we invoke our Lady’s powerful intercession that we, like our Blessed Mother, may be faithful, loving subjects of so great a King, thereby making us worthy also of so noble and holy a Queen.
 

---

Fr.Lance's Homily Archives

---

[Home Page]	[Our Staff]	[Telephone Numbers]
[Support & Help]	[Bulletin Announcement]	[Catholic Links]
[Roncalli Schools]	[Homily]	[Mission Statement]