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January 8, 2017The Feast of the Epiphany binds together Christmas and Easter. Epiphany, which means ‘revelation from above,’ celebrates the revelation of Jesus as the savior of the world. The prophets foretold the Incarnation of God in Israel. In the reading from Isaiah, the prophet proclaims “Nations shall walk by your light, and kings by your shining radiance.” Is 60. The Magi are drawn by the shining radiance of the Star of Bethlehem.
At Christmas, the faith of the Church reminds us that a host of angels, literally an army, sang “Glory to God in the highest” and proclaimed the Christ to poor shepherds in the hills around Bethlehem. At the Epiphany, wise men from the east came to Israel to seek the new born king.
The scribes of Herod’s court could not stand in greater contrast to the Magi. The chief priests and scribes knew where to look for the Christ, but showed no interest in finding the child themselves. Herod treated the child as an enemy. He sent the Magi to spy for him. The Magi sought a king, Herod sought an enemy.
Human nature is blinded by sin and does not see as God sees. The infant recognized by the poor among the Jewish people, Mary, Joseph and the Shepherds, and the wise from other nations clarifies our sight. It is an Epiphany of the true value of this life. Look for God among the poor and the lowly of this world. Look for God in real wisdom. Wisdom is not possible if we are blinded by wealth and power.
The Epiphany is that God claims all nations for himself. Human nature is dislocated from the source of life. We misuse our bodies and the gifts of the earth. God uses the things of nature such as water, oil, grapes, wheat and our human bodies in marriage and holy order to buy us back, that is, to redeem us. God redeems us through nature itself. In his baptism, Jesus takes his place with sinners to make all the waters holy for redeeming us from sin.
Jesus' suffering shows forth love in a way that is crystal clear, revealing what the we need to always hear. God is God only when he is present in our whole life, both the times of joy and the times of sorrow and suffering. At his crucifixion, Christ became a light to all nations.
Think of the ironies of Epiphany. The powerful seek his life, the wise seek his presence. The poor are drawn by hope, King Herod is drawn by jealousy and fear. God enters in the underside of life, even our own failing and sorrows. God is God when he is present at every level of our life. He turns the world upside down. The crucifixion is the great sign of the topsy-turvy message of scripture. The man killed as a criminal, is revered as the Son of God. The victim of human violence, is the dwelling place of God. That is a revelation. The Magi bring gifts to the Christ and he returns the gift of himself.
