(Adoration of the Magi - Rembrandt)
"They prostrated themselves and did him homage . . ."
Sunday Scriptures: http://usccb.org/bible/readings/010514.cfm
Is 60: 1-6
Ep 3: 2-3a, 5-6
Mt 2: 1-12
We
follow many stars in our modern world and among them, Hollywood movie stars and
those in the music world. We have athletic sports stars and stars from political
or military history. Maybe your favorite
television comedian or possibly even a 24 hr news star is someone your follow.
We might have a favorite grandparent or aunt or uncle who is quite a star in
our family. In the case of movie and sports personalities, we shower them with
obscene amounts of money and public fame turning them into superhuman
personalities with near idol worship. I
recall as a grade school student trying to comb my hair like President John
Kennedy. We do such things hoping that
maybe some of their “stardom” will rub off on us. In the end, as much as we
admire these stars, there is a greater Star and its light which we must
recognize this Sunday.
Although
we come to the last week of our Christmas liturgical season this Epiphany
weekend, light is still a predominant image.
In what sounds like our Christmas Mass at night, the first reading from
Isaiah 60 speaks: “Rise up in splendor, Jerusalem! Your light has come the
glory of the Lord shines upon you . . . upon you the Lord shines . . . Nations
shall walk by your light . . . your shining radiance . . .” Our Christian
hearts see Jesus as this shining light and his coming among us as a sign that
God’s light of the world is brilliantly displayed before us. Put on your
sunglasses! This beautiful reading is filled with a mood of joy and gratitude:
“. . . your heart shall throb and overflow . . .” Isaiah reminds us. Yet, as
the Magi encounter King Herod in the Gospel from Matthew 2, we find two curious
contrasts.
The
now two year old Jesus, who is God’s light among us, brings both awe and fear:
One reaction from King Herod and the other from the wandering Magi in search of
this new King. Herod fears this potential rival to his throne, supported by the
prophecies of the Jewish scriptures read to him. His power and position is on the line so he
wants to destroy this King and maintain his ruthless rule over the people of
Israel.
But
the Magi come in faith, trusting in all the signs that tell them someone very
special has been born; a person of royalty who deserves their homage. They don’t want to destroy, they want to
worship and faith is what motivates them to keep searching. They find
themselves drawn to this light not repelled by it.
From
the very beginning of his life on earth, Jesus’ presence creates controversy
and calls us all to respond to his light. Do we fear the demands God makes upon
us or do we embrace his call to conversion?
This child cannot be ignored and we have to respond. The Venerable Archbishop Fulton Sheen once
said, about the journey of the Magi, “Once you find Christ, you cannot go back
the same way.”
The
solemn feast of the Epiphany of the Lord
is about this true Star among us. Jesus
is the sign of God’s Word and calls us all into a love relationship with him
and each other. In this way, the entire Christmas story is a love story. Here, the
wandering magi recognized in a simple Jewish child and his Jewish mother what
only God could have revealed to them.
Are we so eager to follow this Star?
Do we understand who this child, now the risen savior of the world, the
true King of Kings, is for us and for all humanity?
God
came first to the poor (shepherds) then he revealed himself to grander earthly
powers as we see in the Magi who saw even in his simplicity, the truth of his
greatness. The Holy Eucharist is that
moment when God comes to us in great humility – the gift of himself. As we
approach him what gifts do we bring? It might be helpful when approaching the
Eucharist to picture yourself on a journey – that of life of course. Not with gold, frankincense and myrrh but with
the stuff of your life. If we lay down
our lives before this King he will certainly carry it with us. 
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