Follow the Star to Jesus.

Homily for January 7, 2018.

“The sight of the star filled them with delight, and going into the house they saw the child with his mother Mary, and falling to their knees they did him homage. Then opening their treasures, they offered him gifts of gold and frankincense and myrrh” Matthew 2:10-12.

Today, we celebrate the Epiphany of the Lord. The word “Epiphany” simply means “Manifestation” or “Revelation.” It is bringing something that was initially hidden or shrouded in darkness to light. It is getting to know something that was unknown before. In the case of the child Jesus whose birthday we just celebrated, Epiphany refers to the “Manifestation of the DIVINITY of Jesus.”

When we look at what happened our Gospel passage, how some wise men came all the way to visit the baby Jesus, we can now see the point St. Paul was making in our second reading when he said: “… the mystery was made known to me by revelation… that the Gentiles are coheirs, members of the same body, and co-partners in the promise in Christ Jesus through the gospel.”

How on earth will people who never read the scriptures, people who were not part of the covenant or shared in the circumcision come to know about A SON TO BE BORN WHO WOULD BE THE KING OF THE UNIVERSE? This is really mysterious! As our people say, “wetin concern agbero with overload?”

Recall the words of John in the opening session of his Gospel. John 1:10-11 “He was in the world, and the world came into being through him; yet the world did not know him. He came to what was his own, and his own people did not accept him.” While his own people were blind to this manifestation of God in their midst, it was strangers from afar that came to worship him with gifts.

No wonder the prophet Isaiah prophesied long ago as we see in our first reading “See, darkness covers the earth, and thick clouds cover the peoples; but upon you the LORD shines, and over you appears his glory. Nations shall walk by your light, and kings by your shining radiance.” The darkness Isaiah was referring to was a darkness of ignorance, a darkness of lack of faith, a darkness of “see-finish” if you like, a darkness of hearts that have grown cold towards God.

Isn’t it obvious that sometimes we who claim to have monopoly of God turn out to be the most blind eventually? It took the eyes of strangers who know little or nothing about God to see and follow this star yet the people over whom the star was shining did not understand the meaning of the star.

How many Christians today still follow the star? How many of us Christians today still recognize the divinity of Jesus Christ? How many of us still believe that God is fully present in Holy Communion?

How many of us still see the need to give God our best as the wise men gave their best gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh in recognition and appreciation of the fact that Christ is king, prophet and priest? Wouldn’t we rather look for the worst naira notes in our pockets for offertory or select items that are now impoverished and good for nothing for thanksgiving?

Going back to the wise men, do you notice that they followed the star all the way to Israel only for them to take off their eyes from this star on the ASSUMPTION that this great king could ONLY be born in the palace?

There are so many Christians who are still stuck in a palace looking for their miracles when God has already answered their prayers long ago right there in their backyard. As the saying goes, “not all that glitters that is gold.” This is the lot of many Christians today who feel God has abandoned them when in fact they were the ones who choose to take off their eyes from the star.

By the way, you may wonder: What is this star? It is those things around us which lead us to God; the word of God, great spiritual books, holy pictures, the worshipping community of believers and so on. Do you have a prayer room in your house? That is your star; never abandon it. Treasure whatever you have which draws you to God.

This is a new year again, so many of us have made several resolutions and so far we have been abiding by them. Soon we would find ourselves failing again because instead of looking at the star, we begin to head for the palace; we become worldly minded and start looking for glitters of the world. Never let go of the star this year and you will forever be grateful for it.

Let us pray: Lord Jesus, draw me nearer to you every day. Amen.

Happy Sunday. Be Happy. Live Positive. Have Faith. It is well with you. (Solemnity of the Epiphany of Jesus Christ. Bible Study: Isaiah 60:1-6, Psalm 87, Ephesians 3:2-6 Matthew 2:1-12).