Homily for the Solemnity of the Epiphany of the Lord

January 7, 2024
Saint Patrick Cathedral
Fort Worth, Texas

Isaiah 60:1-6
Psalm 72:1-2, 7-8, 10-11, 12-13
Ephesians 3:2-3a, 5-6
Matthew 2:1-12

Today we celebrate the Solemnity of the Epiphany of the Lord. The Church’s liturgy offers us readings that convey the theme of light over darkness, revelation over discovery, and peace over war. All three of these themes are cast from the truth that God has entered human history by taking on human nature, purifying it of sin, and being born in Bethlehem in accord with the prophets and the Law.

Most especially, the Gospel offers us two examples for our consideration and examination of the relationship that God offers to have with us and the importance of our decision to respond to Him. We see the example of Herod, who sees in the Christ Child a threat to his own freedom and power. Because of this Herod treats the Christ Child as an enemy to be destroyed. He reacts cunningly to the information honestly conveyed to him by the Magi. Herod makes himself to be an enemy of Christ. This leads to his madness and violence.

We also see the example of the Magi who set out following the star according to the science in which they are experts. They seek to discover an ally who will share their nations’ interests in fighting a common enemy: Caesar and the Roman Empire. In both examples, we see that in the Christ Child, God reveals Himself as a friend who offers human beings the gift of peace and inheritance of His Kingdom. In both examples we see a common thread of self-interest whether in the hostile stance of Herod or in the desire to discover a new ally against one’s shared enemies.

The Babylonians destroyed Jerusalem 587 years before Christ was born.  Then 50 years later the Persians conquered Babylon and allowed the Jews to return home. The Jews had an almost unimaginable task of rebuilding their home, the Temple, and their lives.  In the first reading, Isaiah prophesies that Jerusalem will again be a great city and a light for the world.  “See, darkness covers the earth, and thick clouds cover the peoples; but upon you the Lord shines, and over you appears His glory. Nations shall walk by your light, and kings by your shining radiance…Then you shall be radiant at what you see, your heart shall throb and overflow, for the riches of the sea shall be emptied out before you, the wealth of nations shall be brought to you. Caravans of camels shall fill you, dromedaries from Midian and Ephah; all from Sheba shall come bearing gold and frankincense and proclaiming the praises of the Lord.”

Matthew reveals this vision fulfilled in the birth of Jesus and the visit of the Magi from Babylon and Persia. “They prostrated themselves and did Him homage. Then they opened their treasures and offered Him gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh. And having been warned in a dream not to return to Herod, they departed for their country by another way.”

The difference between Herod and the Magi is that Herod reacts in defiance and rage to God’s offer of friendship. The Magi respond according to the gift of faith they receive in the revelation of the true God veiled humbly in the humanity of the Infant Jesus and encountered in the presence of Mary and Joseph. The Magi sought a discovery, but they received a revelation. Discovery is made because of the efforts of the explorers. Revelation can only be given from God. We hear Saint Paul’s words to the Ephesians, “You have heard of the stewardship of God’s grace that was given to me for your benefit, namely, that the mystery was made known to me by revelation.”

The Magi seek the truth, but Herod seeks power.  This search made by the Magi prepares them to receive the revelation that the long-promised king is to be born in Bethlehem, but what they receive is beyond the human mind to discover with unaided reason or only on the first principles of science. The Magi receive the revelation that the Child is truly divine and worthy of worship.  They receive the revelation that in Bethlehem of Judea, the least among the cities of Israel, is born the Son of God.  Part of this revelation of faith includes their receiving a message in a dream to ignore Herod’s request to return to him with information of the child so that he might kill the newborn Christ. In this revelation they also come to recognize evil as evil with the fortitude and willingness to avoid it.

The revelation that God gives the Magi is the free gift of grace that is accompanied by the willingness to journey home by a different route. As Pope Francis once observed, “One who believes may not be presumptuous; on the contrary, truth leads to humility, because believers know that, rather than ourselves possessing truth, it is truth that embraces and possesses us.”

In the Christ Child, God offers every human person wounded by the effects of original sin the grace of true friendship. This friendship redeems humanity and offers peace through obedience and love with God. This same Child will preach years later that those who are His friends will keep His commandments. The Magi began their journey seeking to discover an ally with shared interests and common enemies, instead God reveals to them in the Christ Child an authentic friend who has come to give peace instead of making war. He has come not to crush human enemies but to vanquish fear and hatred with the gift of peace and the inheritance that comes from obedient friendship with God.

On this Solemnity of the Epiphany, we too are faced with a decision in the face of God’s offer of real friendship in the gift of the Christ Child. Do we choose to see Christ as a rival to our freedom and autonomy, as Herod did? Do we seek to discover in Christ only an ally contracted on the terms of our self-interest for achieving our goals just as the Magi did at the start of their journey? Finally, do we accept the revelation of the truth of His love on His terms as the Magi did? The light to dispel the darkness of our doubts and the grace to respond humbly as the Magi did lies in the encounter with the same Christ who comes to us humbly in this Eucharist. He changes our hearts and prompts us to accept gratefully His friendship on His terms as heirs to His Kingdom of peace and obedient love.