Father Michael's Column

This weekend we celebrate the feast of the Epiphany, which is sometimes called “the Feast of the Three Kings”, although we don’t know that they were necessarily kings, or that there were three of them. The scriptures simply mention three gifts, so we assume that there were three persons, each bringing a gift. (Tradition has even assigned names to them: Caspar, Melchior, and Balthasar.) The scriptures simply call them “Magi”, “Wise Men” or even “Astrologers”. However, unlike those who practice the pseudo-science of today, these would have been learned men (more like astronomers than astrologers), studying the heavens and noting things that they thought were portents. It was also believed at that time that the birth of an important person—like a king—was reflected in the birth of a new star. This explains their comment to king Herod, “We observed his star at its rising and have come to pay him homage.” 



Where the wise men came from is also the subject of scholarly dispute. The Scriptures merely say “from the east”, which doesn’t exactly narrow it down to a specific country. Among others, the candidate nations include Babylon, Arabia, Persia, and even India. Persia is probably the best bet. One thing is certain: they came seeking the newborn king. 

That suggests more than it might seem at the outset. Gospels frequently communicate at more than one level, and this is especially true of the “prologue” sections. (The story of the magi is in a prologue.) Prologues can rightly be viewed as “Gospels in miniature”, compressing or summarizing the main points of the entire Gospel. In Matthew’s Gospel, for instance, the first seventeen verses, which seem to be a rather boring genealogical listing of the ancestors of Jesus, were actually a Readers’ Digest version of the entire history of salvation. By mentioning these names, which would have been known to Matthew’s readers, the gospel writer summarizes all of the faith history of the Jews, culminating in the greatest event, the birth of Jesus, the ultimate king. It’s sort of like if we were to summarize the history of the United States by mentioning George Washington, Abraham Lincoln, Teddy Roosevelt, and John Kennedy. We could even mention Donald Trump to bring things to the present moment. 

In the prologue story of the wise men seeking the King, there is an anticipation of the end of Matthew’s Gospel, when Jesus gives “The Great Commission”: “Go, therefore, and make disciples of all the nations.” It turns out that the Good News was not intended to be restricted to just the Jews. Rather, Jesus would command his Church to evangelize ALL people. This great command suggests that any persons who genuinely are seeking the Lord (even Gentiles—that is, non-Jews from the east) are able to discover him. Some people, represented by Herod and others, will resist or even oppose the Good News. The Wise Men represent all those throughout the world who long to discover the purpose and meaning of their lives that can only be satisfied in Christ. Our job is to “Go, make disciples.” Future disciples are out there, we just need to point the way, like the star that came to rest over where the child lay.

“And they opened their coffers and presented him with gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh.” (Matt 2:11) Strange gifts indeed for a newborn: Gold for a king; frankincense for a priest; and myrrh, a burial spice. At this point in the prologue we are already in the Passion Account, where Jesus, the priest, offers himself on the cross, over which, there is an inscription that names him King. Then comes his death and burial, wherein he conquers death itself, and offers eternal life to those who “offer him homage”, the homage of lives, lived now for him. Disciples, in their baptism, become one with him in dying and rising. 

Dying and rising (dying to sin, and alive now for the Lord) is the true meaning of that baptism that we received at the start of our discipleship. As St. Paul in his letter to the Romans says, “Are you not aware that we, who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? Through baptism into his death we were buried with him, so that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might live a new life.” (Romans 6: 3-4) In the Great Commission (at the end of Matthew’s Gospel) Jesus also instructs his Church to “baptize” new disciples. I guess that makes sense: if we help people to know Christ, they should be baptized to truly follow him. 

The reason I’m mentioning so much about baptism is that historically, the Baptism of the Lord was also celebrated as part of Christmas and Epiphany. In our Church calendar, the Baptism of the Lord concludes the Christmas Season. The word “epiphany” means “a manifestation”, or “revealing”. Originally, what we now celebrate as “Christmas” was actually known as “The Epiphany” because it was God showing himself, REVEALING himself to the world. That event included both the birth and baptism of the Lord, where he was revealed as “my beloved son”. Next weekend we will celebrate the feast of the Baptism of the Lord, which will conclude the Church’s celebration of the Christmas season. 

The Church is rediscovering our commission: to reveal Christ to the world. Happy Epiphany! 

                                                                    In Jesus,

                                                                    Fr. Michael