THE MEN OF WISDOM
A reading from a biblical reflection of Fr. Silvester O’Flynn OFMCap.
The Epiphany of the Lord (Matthew 2:1-12)
There are three groups of people in Matthew’s story: Herod and the political set inJerusalem; the scribes, priests and religious leaders; and the wise men whom came from the east.
This story of the magi shows the different responses of people to the news of the infant King. It was true what Simeon had said to Mary in the temple, that this Child was destined for the fall and rising of many inIsrael. He would be God’s light, in which people would be their own judges.
The first group were the political people in the capital. Herod was persuaded at the news ‘and so was the whole ofJerusalem.’ These are the power-people whose only religion is their own advancement. But the tyrant is always desperately insecure. Herod is threatened by a tiny infant. The tyrants of history from Pharaoh to Herod, from Cromwell to Hitler, from Stalin to Ceaucescu have thought nothing of huge massacres in the interest of their own survival.
Was Herod genuinely interested in paying homage to the infant King? No way. Herod was interested in only one god …… himself. He shows us how selfishness can take over our lives so that we become blind to the light of God that comes to us.
In the second group of people were the scribes and religious leaders of the Jews. They were consulted about these rumors. So they looked into their books and came up with the answer ‘Betlehem’.
But did they go there, did they take the road to Betlehem? Not they. They stayed inJerusalem, content with their books and debates. They represent those who have all the philosophies, all the theories, all the arguments for and against …… but they will never take single step of commitment. They live in the world of theory and never step out on the road of reality. History is repeated in that many who fall in this way still belong to the priestly circles and religious families. They bury their commitment in learned theses, abstract speculation and dry debate. But will they ever step out and share the light of God with a world which is drifting in darkness towards despair?
The wise men stepped out on the road and followed the star. We must note that a star is such a little light: it is a very distant light: and it is only in darkness that we can see it. For the wise men the star in itself was not important. What they sought was what it would lead them to. The star was a sign of the Beyond. It rested over a house. They went in and saw the Child and His mother Mary. Faith is a commitment to the distant, dimly perceived Beyond that has come into our midst in the Child at Betlehem.
The wise men brought gifts of gold for a King, frankincense for a Priest and myrrh for the embalming of One who would die for His people. The gifts we bring to God at Epiphany are symbolized by the gifts of the magi.
The gold we bring is our commitment to theKingdom ofGod established by Jesus on earth: this means a commitment to the Christian ideals for society …… justice, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit.
The frankincense we bring is our recognition of Jesus Christ as the true Priest or authentic way to the Father. All our prayer is in His name. The Eucharist, as the prayers of Christian memory, is the pinnacle of our journey to God.
The myrrh we bring is our belief and trust in Jesus Christ who has conquered death. We now dare to hope even when all the omens are bad and everything else points to defeat. With these gifts of faith and trust, we fall on our knees and pay homage.
God is in our midst. Emmanuel.