“Epiphany of the Lord: A Revelation of the Lord”

Some of us were baptized as infants and a term used for us is “cradle Catholics.”

Some of us were baptized when we are adults, and the term used for us is “converts.”

But whether “cradle Catholics” or “converts,” God has called us into His church through various means and given us the gift of faith. So, it could be our parents who brought us to church when we were infants for baptism, and we grew up in the faith.

            For those of us who are baptized as adults, we may have encountered the faith through our friends, our colleagues, or that we may have had a spiritual experience that led us to look for God in the Catholic Church. Whatever the means, we acknowledge that it was God who revealed Himself to us and called us into the Church.

Today, as we celebrate the Solemn Feast of Epiphany, we give thanks to God for revealing Himself to the world through His Son Jesus Christ, in all the ways He does so.

            In the gospel, it was a star that caught the attention of the Magi from the East, and they were convinced that it was revealing to them the birth of the newborn King of the Jews.

            The sight of the star was enough for them to embark on a search for the infant King that would lead them to a foreign land and a Messiah! But things were not that easy as the star was not always there for them. That was why they ended up in Jerusalem, and when King Herod heard about it, he was livid! Then he used the Wise Men as his agents to spy and find out the whereabouts of the infant King.

            But, as usual, God always guides and protects those He is calling, and finally the star appeared and led the wise men to Bethlehem, and they finally found the infant King for whom they were searching. They did him homage and brought him royal gifts; not practical gifts that a baby would need, but gifts that pointed to the identity of Jesus, that He is Divine as well as human, and that he is a King. And these gifts also have a revelation for us.

            The gold, symbolizing the wealth of God’s love shared with us through Jesus.

            The Incense (Frankincense) is a symbol of our prayer that is offered regularly so that our lives will be pleasing to God and that we share with others, the fragrant scent of God’s love for all.

            The Myrrh, a kind of medicine that is also used for embalming is a symbol of the frailty of humanity, and that we are nothing without God.

            So, the Feast of the Epiphany reveals Jesus to the world as the Savior and the King of Kings. Yet in this Feast, God also reveals to us who we are and that there is more that He will reveal to us. We may ask ourselves, what/for whom is it I am searching?

            May we walk humbly in the ways of the Lord and follow where He is leading us, just as the Wise men did. And may God bless us, and all who live in simplicity of heart.