Homily
for Sunday 5th January 2020. Read Isaiah 60:1-6, Psalm 72, Ephesians
3:2-6 and Matthew 2:1-12.
_“Arise, shine;
for your light has come, and the glory of the LORD has risen upon you.” *(Isaiah
60:1)*_
Today’s
feast is like a second Christmas but with a slight difference. While we
celebrated the birth of the baby Jesus on the 25th of December, we
are celebrating today the realization that God was born in human flesh. The key
to understanding today’s Gospel passage is to bear in mind that Matthew was
writing primarily to a Jewish audience, a people who quite familiar with today’s
first reading where Isaiah speaks of a time that nations shall bring gold and
frankincense to Israel.
While Luke
presents us with so many details surrounding the birth of Jesus like a
journalist, Matthew simply says: “When Jesus was born… wise men from the East
came to Jerusalem.” It is interesting to note that this visit of the wise men
is found only in Matthew’s Gospel. Who were these wise men and what impact did
their visit have to say about the identity of the newborn Jesus? How did they
know about Jesus and what lessons do we learn from them?
*1. Who
Were They?*
The
only information Matthew provides is the fact that they were from the East and
that they knew how to read the stars. As we say in pidgin: _“wetin concern
agbero with overload?”_ The implication of this visit is that Jesus was not
born simply for the Jewish nation. Jesus is born as Saviour of the whole World.
Secondly, it reveals that Isaiah’s prophecy as contained in our first reading
today had just happened: a light has risen from Israel attracting the whole
world.
I feel sad
when I hear people tell us Africans that Christianity is a
white-man’s-religion, a symbol of colonialism or a form of oppression. To say
such would be implying that Jesus came only to save the white race. From the
wise men’s visit, we can see that God had us in mind from the very moment of
Jesus’ birth. This is exactly what St. Paul teaches us in today’s second
reading. We are not strangers to the Christian faith, we are “fellow heirs,
members of the same body and partakers of the promise in Christ Jesus.”
*2. What
led them to Jesus?*
The wise
men did not have the privilege of having an Angel appear to them like the case
of Zechariah or Mary, they probably had no knowledge of the prophets. A star
captured their attention and they clearly were able to understand that this
star was an indication of the birth of a KING. Not just that, the star seemed
to have suggested the need to go and see this newly born King.
The star
itself is another Epiphany as it reveals that Mary’s child is a King, indeed,
the King of kings; a King whose coming among men cannot be ignored; a king
whose very presence requires the necessary adoration and movement of all other
kings. This was why Herod was greatly disturbed at the news of the birth of
this particular king.
On the
other hand, the fact that the star led the wise men to move from their homes
reveals that nature is vocal, nature speaks; nature tells us of the wonder of
God the creator. The wise men were wise enough to understand that the star was
not god to be worshipped but a voice that spoke of God. Never make the mistake
of being deceived by this passage into all kinds of idol worship, palm reading,
fortune telling and so on.
*3. What
Went Wrong?*
The wise
men upon getting to the land of Israel assumed there is no better place to find
the new King than in the Palace of Herod. This mistake would cost the heads of
many children in Israel. Despite being terrified at the news of another king,
Herod was wise enough to consult the chief priests and scribes regarding the
Christ (the long-awaited Messiah). Herod even helped the wise men by telling
them to go to Bethlehem to search for the child but he did so with a wrong
motive.
This
experience teaches us that, one, not all that glitters is gold. Two, God works
in mysterious ways. The palace may seem attractive yet it may not be God’s plan
for us. Three, not all those who smile with us mean well for us. Four, in
moments of difficulty and anxiety, we can find light by reading the Bible just
like Herod who consulted the chief priests and scribes when he was troubled.
*4. What
did they Bring?*
The wise
men upon seeing the child FELL DOWN and WORSHIPPED HIM. This very act is
another Epiphany; the wise men didn’t just come to say ‘hello’, these men who
were obviously not Jews worshipped the child as God. Every time we come before
Jesus, we are supposed to do exactly what the wise men did. The wise men are
called wise not because the worshipped God in the child Jesus. No wonder the
psalmist says: “only a fool will say there is no God.” (Psalm 14:1, 53:1)
Lastly,
the wise men brought Jesus gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh. This is again
another Epiphany; a revelation of the identity of Jesus as KING, PRIEST AND
SAVIOUR of the world. Jesus had not even started to talk or walk when this
happened yet it is clear to the whole world that He is God in human flesh. He
rules as King with gold, He sanctifies as a Priest with incense (which we still
use today at mass) and as Saviour of mankind, Jesus’ body would be preserved
with myrrh when he offers his life for our salvation.
*Conclusion.*
The wise
men gave gifts to Jesus because they recognized His Divinity, His Kingship and
His Sacrificial role for mankind. The question is: “what kind of gifts do I
render to Jesus? And what do my gifts say about Jesus?” Indeed, the best gift
we can offer to Jesus today is the gift of a righteous life, a pure heart and
hands willing to do God’s commands. Make your life an epiphany to the world.
Let us
pray: Lord Jesus, fill me with light, deepen my love for you and use me to
bring the world out of darkness to worship you. Amen
Happy Sunday. Be Happy. Live
Positive. Have Faith. It is well with you. God bless you. (The Epiphany of
Jesus. Bible Study: Isaiah 60:1-6, Psalm 72, Ephesians 3:2-6 and Matthew
2:1-12).
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