The texts from the Roman Catholic Lectionary today invite us to rejoice as Christ is revealed to the world and we seek our role in His work of transformation.
The reading from the Book of the Prophet Isaiah proclaims the Ingathering of the Dispersed
* [60:1–9] The light the prophet proclaims to Zion symbolizes the blessing to come to her: the glory of the Lord, the return of her children, the wealth of nations who themselves will walk by her light. The passage is famous from its use in the Latin liturgy for the feast of Epiphany. (Isaiah, CHAPTER 60, n.d.)
Psalm 72 is a prayer for Guidance and Support for the King.
* [Psalm 72] A royal Psalm in which the Israelite king, as the representative of God, is the instrument of divine justice (Ps 72:1–4, 12–14) and blessing (Ps 72:5–7, 15–17) for the whole world. The king is human, giving only what he has received from God. Hence intercession must be made for him. The extravagant language is typical of oriental royal courts. (Psalms, PSALM 72 | USCCB, n.d.)
The reading from the Letter of Paul to the Ephesians is his Commission to Preach God’s Plan.
* [3:2] Stewardship: the Greek is the same term employed at Eph 1:10 for the plan that God administers (Col 1:25) and in which Paul plays a key role.
* [3:3–4] The mystery: God’s resolve to deliver Gentiles along with Israel through Christ; cf. notes on Eph 1:10; 3:9. (Ephesians, CHAPTER 3, n.d.)
The Gospel of Matthew describes the Visit of the Wise Men.
* [2:1–12] The future rejection of Jesus by Israel and his acceptance by the Gentiles are retrojected into this scene of the narrative.
* [2:1] In the days of King Herod: Herod reigned from 37 to 4 B.C. Magi: originally a designation of the Persian priestly caste, the word became used of those who were regarded as having more than human knowledge. Matthew’s magi are astrologers.
* [2:2] We saw his star: it was a common ancient belief that a new star appeared at the time of a ruler’s birth. Matthew also draws upon the Old Testament story of Balaam, who had prophesied that “A star shall advance from Jacob” (Nm 24:17), though there the star means not an astral phenomenon but the king himself.
* [2:4] Herod’s consultation with the chief priests and scribes has some similarity to a Jewish legend about the child Moses in which the “sacred scribes” warn Pharaoh about the imminent birth of one who will deliver Israel from Egypt and the king makes plans to destroy him.
* [2:11] Cf. Ps 72:10, 15; Is 60:6. These Old Testament texts led to the interpretation of the magi as kings. (Matthew, CHAPTER 2, n.d.)
George Butterfield comments that “Brothers and sisters, you and I are that star”.
If we live in the light of Christ, there will be those who follow that light and discover the child. Of course, not all are interested in the light. Darkness can be quite comforting. Some will even be hostile to the light; Herod lives. Who could have imagined that the baby in the manger was the Light of the world? Let us let our light shine; it will lead people to the Light in that manger.
I leave you with the children’s song that we used to sing during Vacation Bible School.
This little light of mine – I’m gonna let it shine.
This little light of mine – I’m gonna let it shine.
This little light of mine – I’m gonna let it shine.
Let it shine all the time, let it shine. (Butterfield, n.d.)
Don Schwager quotes “The glory of Christ's divinity is revealed,” by Chromatius (died 406 AD).
"Let us now observe how glorious was the dignity that attended the King after his birth, after the magi in their journey remained obedient to the star. For immediately the magi fell to their knees and adored the one born as Lord. There in his very cradle they venerated him with offerings of gifts, though Jesus was merely a whimpering infant. They perceived one thing with the eyes of their bodies but another with the eyes of the mind. The lowliness of the body he assumed was discerned, but the glory of his divinity is now made manifest. A boy he is, but it is God who is adored. How inexpressible is the mystery of his divine honor! The invisible and eternal nature did not hesitate to take on the weaknesses of the flesh on our behalf. The Son of God, who is God of the universe, is born a human being in the flesh. He permits himself to be placed in a manger, and the heavens are within the manger. He is kept in a cradle, a cradle that the world cannot hold. He is heard in the voice of a crying infant. This is the same one for whose voice the whole world would tremble in the hour of his passion. Thus he is the One, the God of glory and the Lord of majesty, whom as a tiny infant the magi recognize. It is he who while a child was truly God and King eternal. To him Isaiah pointed, saying, 'For a boy has been born to you; a son has been given to you, a son whose empire has been forged on his shoulders (Isaiah 9:6).'" (excerpt from TRACTATE ON MATTHEW 5:1)
[Note: Chromatius was an early Christian scholar and bishop of Aquileia, Italy. He was a close friend of John Chrysostom and Jerome. He died in 406 AD. Jerome described him as a "most learned and most holy man."] (Schwager, 2021)
The Word Among Us Meditation on Matthew 2:1-12 comments that Epiphany reveals to us that God’s love is far more expansive than anyone had ever thought. We begin to see that in Christ, a loving relationship with God is open to everyone who comes to him, Jew or Gentile.
That includes you! And your annoying cousin. And the notorious criminal on death row. And the atheist on that YouTube channel. The invitation to come to Jesus extends to everyone. Because God’s loving desire to draw all people to himself cannot be contained; no one is excluded from it. And that’s a life-changing realization!
Today, as you celebrate this great feast, give thanks to God who loves so extravagantly that he opens his arms wide to welcome everyone who believes. Pray, too, that all people will come to the Lord.
“Lord God, your revelation to the Gentiles has changed the course of history! Thank you for your love that reaches out to everyone!” (Meditation on Matthew 2:1-12, n.d.)
Friar Jude Winkler comments on the promise of a restoration in Trito-Isaiah, written after the Babylonian exile when the Israelites returned to Jerusalem. Paul proclaims that the Gentiles are coheirs in the revelation of Christ. Friar Jude comments on the syzygy that attracted Magi astrologers and the interpretation through the Spirit of the gifts they brought to Jesus.
Brian McLaren comments that we have the crises of the planet, poverty, peace; the fourth crisis is religion because all too often our religious communities are remaining on the sidelines. As Thomas Merton said, they’re “guilty bystanders.” He thinks much religion has been selling people an evacuation plan rather than helping them participate in a transformation plan.
It was the same with Thomas Merton. He became a Trappist monk. We might think of Trappists as people who are withdrawn from all the events and affairs of the world. But Merton, who wrote New Seeds of Contemplation, also wrote a book called Seeds of Destruction because he said he wanted a form of engaged contemplative Christian faith.
When Richard Rohr started the CAC, he wanted it to be the Center for Action and Contemplation: engaged contemplation rooted in a Christian tradition. And of course, this just draws from the example of Jesus, who withdrew for a period of contemplative silence at the beginning of his ministry, a period of forty days, the story says. But then of course, he engaged with the struggles and challenges of his people in his time.
Every day Jesus would follow that same rhythm: withdraw for solitude, but then come back to engage by healing, feeding, caring, welcoming, binding up the wounds of this world, and implanting in people a vision of resilience, engaging with a world on fire. (McLaren, 2024)
We rejoice at the revelation of Christ as the Servant/King, who calls us to share His Love with all people of the world.
References
Butterfield, G. (n.d.). Creighton U. Daily Reflection. Online Ministries. Retrieved January 7, 2024, from https://onlineministries.creighton.edu/CollaborativeMinistry/010624-Epiphany.html
Ephesians, CHAPTER 3. (n.d.). USCCB. Retrieved January 7, 2024, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/ephesians/3?2
Isaiah, CHAPTER 60. (n.d.). USCCB. Retrieved January 7, 2024, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/isaiah/60?1
Matthew, CHAPTER 2. (n.d.). USCCB. Retrieved January 7, 2024, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/matthew/2?1
McLaren, B. D. (2024, January 7). Engaging with a World on Fire — Center for Action and Contemplation. Center for Action and Contemplation. Retrieved January 7, 2024, from https://cac.org/daily-meditations/engaging-with-a-world-on-fire/
Meditation on Matthew 2:1-12. (n.d.). The Word Among Us: Homepage. Retrieved January 7, 2024, from https://wau.org/meditations/2024/01/07/870639/
Psalms, PSALM 72 | USCCB. (n.d.). Daily Readings. Retrieved January 7, 2024, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/psalms/72?1
Schwager, D. (2021, September 22). They Fell down and Worshiped Jesus. Daily Scripture net. Retrieved January 7, 2024, from https://www.dailyscripture.net/daily-meditation/?ds_year=2024&date=jan7
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