Solemnity of the Epiphany of the Lord (Year A) - 8 January
8th January 2023
Solemnity of the Epiphany of the Lord (Year A) - 8 January
“For by gold the power of a king is signified, by frankincense the honour of God, by myrrh the burial of the body; and accordingly they offer Him gold as King, frankincense as God, myrrh as Man.” - St John Chrysostom
A reflection on today's Gospel by the Venerable Archbishop Fulton J Sheen:
"Simeon had foretold that the Divine Babe would be a Light to the Gentiles. They were already on the march. At His birth there were the Magi, or the scientists of the East; at His death, there would be the Greeks, or the philosophers of the West. The Psalmist had foretold that the kings of the East would come to do homage to Emmanuel. Following a star, they came to Jerusalem to ask Herod where the King had been born.
"It was a star that led them. God spoke to the Gentiles through nature and philosophers; to the Jews, through prophecies. The time was ripe for the coming of the Messiah and the whole world knew it. Though they were astrologers, the slight vestige of truth in their knowledge of the stars led them to the Star out of Jacob, as the ‘Unknown God’ of the Athenians later on would be the occasion for Paul preaching to them the God Whom they knew not, but dimly desired. Though coming from a land that worshiped stars, they surrendered that religion as they fell down and worshiped Him Who made the stars. The Gentiles in fulfilment of the prophecies of Isaiah and Jeremiah ‘came to Him from the ends of the earth.’ The Star, which disappeared during the interrogation of Herod, reappeared and finally stood over the place where the Child was born.
"Isaiah had prophesied: ‘A stream of camels thronging about thee, dromedaries from Madian and Epha, bringing all the men of Saba with their gifts of gold and incense, their cry of praise to the Lord!’ (Isaiah 60:6)
"They brought three gifts: gold to honour His Kingship, frankincense to honour His Divinity, and myrrh to honour His Humanity which was destined for death. Myrrh was used at His burial. The crib and the Cross are related again, for there is myrrh at both. When the Magi came from the East bringing gifts for the Babe, Herod the Great knew that the time had come for the birth of the King announced clearly to the Jews, and apprehended dimly in the aspirations of the Gentiles. But like all carnal-minded men, he lacked a spiritual sense, and therefore felt certain that the King would be a political one. He made inquiries as to where Christ was to be born. The chief priests and learned men told him, ‘At Bethlehem in Judea, for so it has been written by the prophet.’ Herod said that he wanted to worship the Babe. But his actions proved that he really meant, ‘If this is the Messiah, I must kill Him.’
"Herod will forever be the model of those who make inquiries about religion, but who never act rightly on the knowledge they receive. Head knowledge is worthless, unless accompanied by submission of the will and right action.
"Herod was fearful that He Who came to bring a heavenly crown would steal away his own tinsel one. He pretended that he wanted to bring gifts, but the only gift he wanted to bring was death. Wicked men sometimes hide their evil designs under an appearance of religion: ‘I am a religious man, but….’ Men can make inquiries about Christ for two reasons, either to worship or to harm. Some would even make use of religion for their evil designs, as Herod made use of the Wise Men. Inquiries about religion do not produce the same results in all hearts. What men ask about Divinity is never as important as why they ask it."
(Life of Christ)
Prayer for the Epiphany of the Lord
Dear Jesus, as You led the Three Kings to You by the light of a star, please draw us ever closer to You by the light of Faith. Help us to desire You as ardently as they did. Give us the grace to overcome all the obstacles that keep us far from You. May we, like them, have something to give You when we appear before You. Amen. 🙏💖💐