WISE MEN STILL SEEK GOD
Isaiah 60:1-6; Ps. 72; Eph. 3:2-3a, 5-6; Matt. 2:1-12
1. Today the Church celebrates the feast of the Epiphany of the Lord. This Celebration marks the end of the Christmas season. Epiphany comes from the Greek ‘epiphaneia’, meaning “appearance” or “manifestation,” and refers to the manifestation of Jesus Christ to the world.
2. The Gospel tells us of three wise men who went to visit the new born King. These three men represent all peoples – Jews and Gentiles alike. St. Paul effectively conveyed this truth when he reminded the Ephesians in the second reading that Gentiles are fellow heirs of the promise. We belong to one Kingdom let us desist from segregation and division in the house of God.
3. These wise men endured to finish their course. Anyone who wants to manifest his God-given assignment must learn to endure. Following the sign must have been a tedious task. These men persevered, went through valley, and travelled night and day all to pay him homage. We too should not be discouraged by the distance we cover just to come to Church, we should not be discouraged by the trials we go through in order to worship Jesus truly.
4. These men saw the star and followed it but when they saw Jesus they stopped following the sign. Now we must put Jesus first, not the star. Many Christians still practice palm reading, star reading, and other occult practices today. Beloved, rescue yourself by following Jesus.
5. These wise men departed by another way. The Gospel says in Matt.2:12 “And having been warned in a dream not to return to Herod, they left for their own country by another road.” The Angel instructed them not to go back to Herod. We must not go back to Herod. Anyone who has found Christ must not go back to Herod. Herod depicts wickedness, immorality and darkness. If we have truly repented we must not go back to our former ways of life.
6. These wise men came to worship Christ. We have come to worship. The wise are worshiping it will be unwise for us not to worship. The wise did not worship with empty hands, it will be unwise for us to come and worship with our hands empty. Men of old knew this; they worshipped with the best of their produce. Abel in Genesis 4:4; Noah in Genesis 8:20; and the instruction of Moses to the people in Exodus 23:19. We too should learn the art of sincere worship.
7. These wise men prostrated and adored. The response to the psalm developed this theme further when it says “All nations of the earth shall fall prostrate before you, O Lord.” Let us learn to worship. Today even those who are physically fit find it difficult to kneel before the Blessed Sacrament –they are not wise. Wise men could prostrate; it will be unwise for us to disregard liturgical gestures.
8. These wise men brought costly gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh. Gold depicts Christ’s kingship, frankincense his divinity and myrrh, his humanity. The gifts represent the various stages in Christ’s life. But for us, gold means love, frankincense means prayer and myrrh means mortification. Therefore, the life of a true Christian should give expression to love, prayer and penance. Without these factors the Christian life suffers eternal separation from God.
9. The first reading tells us arise and shine for your light has come and the glory of the Lord has risen upon you. Beloved, are you still sitting in the dark? Arise! Are you still living in sin or partnering with the world? Arise! Beloved, Arise, wake up from that addiction, wake up from that dangerous sleep – your light has come. Thess.5:5 calls us children of light. We are children of light not of night or of the dark. Let us desist from every dark act and manifest as light. *If you are wise, you will rise.*
LET US PRAY
May the splendor of your majesty, O Lord, we pray, shed its light upon our hearts, that we may pass through the shadows of this world and reach the brightness of our eternal home. Amen.
~witnessline
Fr. Daniel Evbotokhai
