HOMILY FOR SOLEMNITY OF THE EPIPHANY OF THE LORD

HOMILY FOR SOLEMNITY OF THE EPIPHANY OF THE LORD — YEAR C

HOMILY THEME: RISE UP AND LOCATE THE STAR

BY: Fr. Isaac Awe

Isaiah 60:1-6/ Ephesians 3:2-3, 5-6/ Matthew 2:1-12

When God presents us with a new opportunity, are we willing to get up and begin a journey of faith?

The feast of epiphany is the oldest in the liturgical calendar after Easter and Pentecost and was celebrated long before Christmas itself came to be regarded as a feast. The word epiphany comes from a Greek word “epiphaneia” which means manifestation and refers to the appearance or making known of Christ. Epiphany celebrates the traditional gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh. Hence, the magi made a dramatic commitment of time to search for this new king. The gift of time is one of the most precious things that we can give to Jesus.

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However, Gold was a tribute for a king; incense was offered as praise to God; and myrrh was ointment used to soothe the sufferings of humanity. Yet all three were presented to Jesus, for as true God and man, he had been given all authority and dominion as king and lord. By offering these three gifts , the wise men pointed to Jesus’ authority, his deity, and the fact that the long awaited salvation could only come about through his suffering and death.

There is another wonderful message from the wise men for us. They met God in the midst of their normal daily living; they were at their respective tasks when God gave them a sign. God is not limited to meeting with us in a certain place or at a certain hour. God can and does speak to us anywhere and at any time.

The first thing we need to do is to be always alert and watchful. Second is our willingness and interest to put our love into action. The wise men could have noted the appearance of the star in their charts, and done nothing about it. Putting their tasks on hold , they put a commitment to their conviction. They put their feet to their faith and commenced a journey. The story of the wise men helps us to see that there is something special, something remarkable that awaits us at the end of the journey (Christlike journey though .

THINGS TO BE DONE:

We have to first see the star: Keeping our eyes and hearts always open.

We have to follow the star: It entails a change of location for a better day. Where are you? (Gen 3:9)

We have to be persistent in search of true happiness. Never give up!

We have to be humble enough to seek the right direction.

In their thirst for the knowledge of God, they willingly left everything, their home and country, in pursuit of that quest. In their diligent search they were led to the source of true knowledge, to Jesus Christ, the Light and Wisdom of God. When they found the new born King they humbly worshiped him and gave him gifts fitting for a king.

What fueled their search for the Messianic King? Faith in the promise of God to send a Redeemer, a King who would establish God’s reign of peace and righteousness. Faith is an entirely free gift that God makes to us. It is through the help of the Holy Spirit, who moves the heart and opens the eyes of the mind, that we are able to understand, accept, and believe the truth which God reveals to us. In faith, the human will and intellect cooperate with grace. “Believing is an act of the intellect assenting to the divine truth by command of the will moved by God through grace” (Thomas Aquinas).

To know and to encounter Jesus Christ is to know God personally. In the encounter of the wise men with Jesus we see the plan of God to give his only Son as King and Saviour, not just for the Jewish people but for all the nations as well. The Lord Jesus came that both Jew and Gentile might find true and lasting peace with God. Let us pray today that Jew and Gentile alike will find the Lord and Saviour on their journey of life. Do we bring the light of Jesus Christ to those we meet through the witness of our lives and testimonies?

PRAYER: Lord Jesus Christ, we thank you for bringing salvation to all the nations. May the gospel of salvation be proclaimed to every nation today and to every person on the face of the earth. Help us to be good witnesses of the joy of the gospel to all we meet. Amen.

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