Seeking Him with the Wise Men

Pastor’s Column

Epiphany

January 7, 2018

“The Magi were overjoyed at seeing the star, and on entering the house they saw the child with Mary, his mother. They prostrated themselves and did him homage. Then they opened their treasures and offered him gifts: gold, frankincense and myrrh.”

Matthew 2:1-12

The story of the Magi which we hear at Epiphany each year is not just a history lesson. Many wonder where the Magi came from, how many or who they really were. But the Magi are not the only seekers of Christ. We are all called to be seekers of Christ, to be in fact Magi! We Christians are on a journey to Bethlehem; we are all called to seek the Lord. Indeed, ultimately he is to be found at the end of every person’s journey. Let’s look for clues in the scripture of the day.

He was found at a cave, in a manger, in Bethlehem. When we seek the Lord, we will not find him in a palace or dressed in fine robes. Instead, we must come to Bethlehem, which when translated, literally means House of Bread. We will find Jesus among the humble of this world, the needy, the poor. This is where his face will be most visible. And we will especially find him in the Eucharist. This is our House of Bread. It is amid the poor and humble circumstances of our adoration chapel, that we may go on pilgrimage to Bethlehem, meet the king and find him much as the Magi did.

They prostrated themselves and did him homage. We kneel in adoration before the king whom we have discovered hidden from the proud, but available to all who have the humility to come to him and bow before him in silence. Then they opened their treasures and offered him gifts: gold, frankincense and myrrh.

Gold. We come before the king in prayer and offer him that which is most precious to us: our time, our obedience, our offerings of treasure or service to the poor, the treasure of our time with him, the treasure of our will which we strive to conform to his. As a great king, Jesus wants the best that we have to offer.

Frankincense. Incense is a symbol of our prayers that we lift up to God. We offer him this gift whenever we pray, whether we feel anything or not. The more of a sacrifice our prayer is, the greater will be the cloud of incense before the Lord. Our service to others is also incense before the Lord.

Myrrh. Myrrh symbolizes great sacrifice, dying to self, conversion. When I make a journey to the great King as the Magi did, I will be changed by the encounter. Myrrh represents every suffering, sacrifice or act of repentance we have made before the Lord!

Father Gary

Reflections from Scott Hahn

Newborn King: Scott Hahn Reflects on the Feast of the Epiphany of the Lord

Download Audio File

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

Today the child born on Christmas is revealed to be the long-awaited king of the Jews.

As the priests and scribes interpret the prophecies in today’s Gospel, he is the ruler expected from the line of King David, whose greatness is to reach to the ends of the earth (see Micah 5:1-3; 2 Samuel 5:2).

Jesus is found with His mother, as David’s son, Solomon, was enthroned alongside his Queen Mother (see 1 Kings 2:19). And the magi come to pay Him tribute, as once kings and queens came to Solomon (see 1 Kings 10:2,25).

His coming evokes promises that extend back to Israel’s beginnings.

Centuries before, an evil king seeking to destroy Moses and the Israelites had summoned Balaam, who came from the East with two servants. But Balaam refused to curse Israel, and instead prophesied that a star and royal staff would arise out of Israel and be exalted above all the nations (see Numbers 22:21; 23:7; 24:7,17).

This is the star the three magi follow. And like Balaam, they too, refuse to be tangled in an evil king’s scheme. Their pilgrimage is a sign – that the prophesies in today’s First Reading and Psalm are being fulfilled. They come from afar, guided by God’s light, bearing the wealth of nations, to praise Israel’s God.

We celebrate today our own entrance into the family of God, and the fulfillment of God’s plan that all nations be united with Israel as co-heirs to His Fatherly blessings, as Paul reveals in today’s Epistle.

We too, must be guided by the root of David, the bright morning star (see Revelation 22:16), and the light of the world (see Isaiah 42:6; John 8:12).

As the magi adored Him in the manger, let us renew our vow to serve Him, placing our gifts – our intentions and talents – on the altar in this Eucharist. We must offer to Him our very lives in thanksgiving. No lesser gift will suffice for this newborn King.