(DOCTRINE AND FAITH)
(Isaiah 60, 1-6; Ephesian 3,2-3.5-6; Matt 2,1-12: Epiphany of the Lord: 3rd January 2021; Year B)
The solemnity of the Epiphany of the Lord puts in our hearts a great exultation, because it is truly our celebration too. Indeed, it is a feast that speaks of the vocation of all peoples to the Christian faith and, through it, to enter into the fullness of divine life. The Magi are the first pagans who come to worship the Son of God, and they are an anticipation of God's plan that will be realised after the death and resurrection of Jesus. Let us then reflect on these magi, who are for us a model in the search for the Lord: they seek the light that comes from God, and they seek the Messiah, the king of the Jews; they do not hesitate to leave their country and make a long journey from the East to Jerusalem. They live in the East, in countries where astronomy is highly developed. We have very ancient testimonies on the research done by the Chaldeans, who studied the sky and acquired an ever deeper knowledge of the stars. The Magi arrive in Jerusalem and ask: Where is the king of the Jews who was born? We have seen his star rise and we have come to adore him. They made this long journey to worship the king of the Jews, who was born. We do not know exactly how, but they recognised a divine sign in the sky announcing the birth of this King. In the Old Testament it speaks of the star of Jacob that must rise (cf. Num. 24,17). Perhaps the Magi were aware of these prophetic texts. However, the evangelist tells us that they recognised the divine sign and immediately set out on their journey to reach the newly born Messiah. They not only take the trouble to set out, but they try by all possible means to identify the place where the Messiah is. In Jerusalem they turn to King Herod, who asks the high priests and scribes to inquire about the place where the Messiah was to be born. This concern of the Magi contrasts with the indifference of the high priests and scribes. Priests and scribes know the Scriptures and are able to give the right answer: In Bethlehem of Judah, because it is written in this way through the prophet, but they do not bother to go and find the Messiah. They do not have to make a long journey to reach Bethlehem, but they don't move. They give the right answer, but they do not bother going even now to worship the newly born Messiah. Even more negative is Herod's attitude. He is worried: Secretly called the Magi, he asked them to tell exactly the time when the star appeared and sent them to Bethlehem, urging them: Go and find out carefully about the child and, when you have found him, let me know, so that I too come to adore him. These words of Herod are actually a lie. He wants to know where this child is, not to worship him, but to eliminate him. He fears that, if truly this child is the king of the Jews, he could take his place. Therefore, he regards him as a rival to be suppressed. And from history we know that King Herod did not hesitate to kill people even from his own family, considering them rivals of his power. So, in this story we are presented with three very different attitudes. We have to choose which of them to adopt. The coming of Jesus into our life can be considered by us as a danger. Indeed, our selfishness regards it as such. At the time we can have reactions similar to that of Herod: we want to suppress or silence the revelation of Jesus, sin consists precisely in wanting to eliminate, because of our selfishness, the presence of Jesus in our life. If we follow our selfishness, our human ambitions and our bad tendencies, Jesus is felt by us as a nuisance, and for us an obstacle to be eliminated. On the other hand, like the high priests and scribes of the people, we can be tempted by indifference. We know that Jesus is the Lord, the Saviour, but we prefer to live as if He were not. Unfortunately, we sometimes live with indifference. Instead of behaving in a manner consistent with our faith, we follow principles that are completely opposite to it, the principles of the world, which wants to satisfy selfish inclinations, ambitions, the thirst for power and wealth. Instead, we must follow the example of the Magi: be ready to bother, to meet the Lord Jesus in our life and be truly with him to adore him, that is, to recognize that he is our Lord, the one who shows us the true way forward. If we have this attitude, Jesus truly saves us, and we can live with all our Christian dignity, we can live all the fullness of life that God desires for us: a beautiful life, a life of continuous progress in faith, hope and charity, of progress in filial docility towards God and in solidarity with our brothers. It is very important for us to follow the example of the Magi.
The first reading was chosen because it presents a reference to the evangelical episode of the Magi: It is a prophecy of Isaiah, who sees the light shining on Jerusalem: Darkness covers the earth, thick fog envelops the nations; but the Lord shines on you, his glory appears on you. Indeed, with the birth of Jesus the light now shines on Jerusalem or, more precisely, on Bethlehem. This light attracts the pagan peoples: The nations will come to your light and kings to your dawning brightness […] A crowd of camels will invade you, dromedaries from Midian and Ephah, all will come from Sheba, bringing gold and incense and proclaiming the glories of the Lord. The Gospel tells us that the Magi bring gold and incense to the Messiah. He also adds myrrh, which symbolises the mystery of the passion of Jesus, In tradition, some artists were inspired by this text of Isaiah to represent the coming of the Magi to Bethlehem, to worship the Lord, with camels and dromedaries. Isaiah's prophecy does not only announce the coming of some wise men to Bethlehem to adore Jesus, but also announces the conversion of entire nations: Peoples will walk to your light, kings to the splendour of your rising. Raise your eyes around and look: all of these have gathered and are coming to you. This is the adhesion of the pagan nations to the faith in the one God, thanks to the coming of his only begotten Son among us. We can then feel filled with joy, because the episode of the Magi announces this adhesion of the pagan peoples to the Christian faith.
In the second reading, Paul makes us contemplate the full breadth of God's plan: This mystery had not been revealed to the men of previous generations as it is in the present and was revealed to his holy apostles and prophets by means of the Spirit. The mystery is that the Gentiles are called, in Christ Jesus, to share in the same inheritance, to form the same body, and to share in the promise through the Gospel. Therefore, all are called to share in the privileges of the chosen people. In the Old Testament God had chosen a people for himself, but his intention was not to reserve all his graces for them alone, but to take them as an instrument for the salvation of the whole world. The particular vocation of the people of Israel is the preparation of a universal vocation. In Christ Jesus the pagan nations are called to have part in the same inheritance, to form the same body and to be partakers of the promise that was made to the people of Israel. This intention of God had already been revealed in the time of Abraham, but in a discreet way; therefore, it had never been fully understood. Indeed, from the beginning, God had promised Abraham: 
In you all the families of the earth will be blessed (Gen 12,3). These words of his could be interpreted in the sense that all the families of the earth would have admired the privileges granted to Abraham and would have wished to receive similar benefits from God: May you be blessed as Abraham!
In the New Testament, however, the true meaning of these words is revealed to us; it is revealed to us that this blessing is truly the participation of all in the same privileges as Abraham and his descendants. Paul is the one who had this revelation more clearly that all pagans are called to receive, through redemption in Christ and faith in him, the fullness of grace. In other passages the Apostle affirms that there is no longer Jew or Greek (cf. Gal 3,28; Col 3,11), that is, there is no longer a difference between the chosen people and the other nations, because all are called in Christ Jesus to welcome the fullness of divine life.
We Christians must rejoice in participating in the fulfilment of this plan of God. The Church has always recognised that her privileges are not reserved for a few people, but must be transmitted to the whole world. All men are called by God, and the Church is never tired of going to peoples who do not yet know Christ, or who know him little, to announce that they too are loved by God and are called to live in the fullness of life, thanks to divine love that changes our perspectives and makes our life a bright path. Today we must rejoice in having received this call and, on the other hand, we must also feel our responsibility to collaborate in the realisation of this plan of God, so beautiful and so promising for all men.
+John I. Okoye
(graphics by chukwubike)
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