HOMILY FOR EPIPHANY OF THE LORD YEAR A. (3)

HOMILY FOR EPIPHANY OF THE LORD YEAR A.

THEME: FOLLOW THE LIGHT: NEVER BE LIKE HEROD

BY: Rev. Fr. Linus Terhemen Akase.

HOMILY FOR SUNDAY JANUARY 7TH 2023.

Isaiah 60:1-6; Psalm 72:1-2.7-8.10-11.12-13 (R.11); Ephesians 3:2-3a.5-6; Matthew 2:1-12

Epiphany deals with Jesus who is revealed to us as the Light as the first reading tells us. When He arises all the darkness disappeared and His light has shown into the world. Epiphany therefore celebrates the many ways through which Jesus has revealed himself to us and in our world. These include the three events that bring to light his mission and divinity: the visitation of the three kings or Magi (Mt 2:10-12), the baptism of Jesus (Mk.1:9-11), and the miracle at Cana (Jn.2:1-11), out of which the revelation of Christ to the Magi, led by the Star is the greatest self-revelation of God to the world. In the today’s Gospel passage, Matthew presents to us the visitation of the three wise kings (the Magi). They came to adore and offer gifts to the new born king, Jesus Christ – Gold, Frankincense and myrrh.

Just like the Magi, all of us are seekers: we seek for love, acceptance, and for understanding. The journey towards wholeness and holiness is a journey without end. We may not have the star to lead or guide us to our destination but we have the Scriptures and each other in our journey to God. For the wise men, the Scripture and the Star lead them from the East to Bethlehem. We are here in this Church as seekers hoping to find Jesus again in the Scripture and in the Eucharist. We believe that the Scripture will lead us to Him again, and we can commune with Him in the breaking of bread. Unlike Herod we must pay Jesus a sincere homage. To pay Jesus homage with empty hands is not encouraged. We must be ready to offer Jesus something. What then can we offer the Lord as we seek Him in the Scriptures and the Breaking of Bread? The only gift we must offer God for his goodness to us is ourselves, the gift of good live, the gift of love, the gift of obedience, the gift of humility, the gift of peace to our families and world, and the gift of sacrifice for one another.

Finally, Jesus always wants us to follow His light and thus become light to the world. We must therefore continue to follow the star and the light that Christ shows us. That is, Herod, the deceiver, must not be allowed to continue deceiving us with fake homage to the Lord. Will God mislead us? No! Will God deceive us? No! Let us then continue to look out for His star and light in our lives and along the part of our journey to eternity. Happy Sunday and have a blissful celebration!!!https://www.catholicforlife.com/homily-for-epiphany-of-the-lord-year-a-3/

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