The Epiphany of the Lord
In the silence of the night, not only does a voice resound: God is born to you!, but we also hear the echo of God's call from Paradise: Adam, where are you? God is looking for man and for this reason he became one of us, so that in Jesus Christ we could find true happiness (lost paradise), so that in him we could find the answer to the questions about the meaning and purpose of life. Man has always sought answers to these questions, and it can be said that man is always looking for God.
The Three Kings have become for us models of people sincerely seeking God. They followed the two lights that showed them the way. They followed the starlight. Certainly, it is a real star, not a symbolic one. In today's Gospel we hear the Magi say: We saw his star at its rising, and behold, the star that they had seen at its rising preceded them, until it came and stopped over the place where the child was.
Benedict XVI says that the Magi "were scholars who observed the stars and learned the history of peoples. They were men of science in the broad sense of the word, for they observed the cosmos as if it were a great book full of divine signs and messages for men." They did not disregard these signs; they took them seriously. Just as then, the world of science is full of amazing discoveries, which for many scientists become signs pointing to the existence of God.
But their star was also the longing of the heart, resulting from a thorough knowledge of human nature, which is limited and cannot fully satisfy man's deepest desires. They knew that nothing earthly could satisfy their hearts. Even successful human love, success, career, power, riches do not bring true happiness for a simple reason – everything passes. So they longed for something eternal, for something certain, for everlasting goodness and beauty. They sought happiness according to the words later spoken by St. Augustine: "If you want to have eternal joy, unite yourself to him who is eternal.
They followed the light of God's word. However, they did not consider their knowledge to be self-sufficient, but still considered God's Revelation and were open to God's mysterious voice. Lost on the path of their search, they use the light of God's word. We hear in today's Gospel that the chief priests and the scholars of the people help the Magi to find the place of the newborn King of the Jews, quoting the text of the prophets: In Bethlehem of Judah, because this is how it was written by the Prophet: "And you, Bethlehem, land of Judah, are by no means least among the rulers of Judah; since from you shall come a ruler, who is to shepherd my people Israel.”. The Word of God became an important signpost for them.
They were also open to God's inspirations, because after the encounter with the Child Jesus in Bethlehem, having received in a dream the command not to return to Herod, they went back to their country by another route. They changed their plans. We can say that they obeyed their conscience, through which God spoke to them.
The Magi teach us that when we seek God, there must be harmony between reason and faith, between science and Revelation. The Magi, after hearing and accepting the prophecies, as soon as they continue on their journey to Bethlehem, see the star anew. We would say – they found themselves. And this detail is a confirmation of the full harmony between the search of man and divine truth, a harmony that filled the heart with joy.
Very often, modern man succumbs to the temptation to seek happiness on the basis of his own strength, based only on his reason. He wants to fend for himself, trusting in his genius, and treating faith and religion as something obsolete, or even as something that is an obstacle that must be rejected in order to be a free and fulfilling man. In fact, reason never comes into real conflict with faith! Benedict XVI says that: "God created our reason and gives us faith, proposing that we freely accept it as a precious gift".
the Magi search with the help of faith and reason was successful. They found the child with His Mother Mary. They must have been surprised by what they saw. They were looking for the king in the palace, and they found the helpless Child in the shed! They may have felt disappointed and cheated. However, they are open to the mystery which they accept. They let themselves be surprised
They prostrated themselves and did him homage
What the Magi did is described in Greek by the word "proskynesis" and in Latin by the word "adoratio." Both of these words show us the full meaning of what has been accomplished. "Proskynesis" means submission, acknowledging God as the true measure and source of the laws they choose to obey. And "adoratio" is "ad-oratio", that is, from mouth to mouth, a kiss, a hug, and therefore respect, love. Submission becomes union because the One to whom they submit is Love. In this way, submission acquires meaning, because it does not impose anything on us from without, but liberates us from within.
Finally, opening their treasures, they offered him gifts: gold, frankincense and myrrh. By offering their gifts, they show that they recognize Jesus as the King and Son of God. Gold, frankincense and myrrh were standard gifts offered to a king who was considered a god. But seeing Jesus, they understood that such gifts were not enough for this King, that the only worthy gift they could make was to offer themselves in his service. They understood that a gift less than their life was not enough for this King.
The outer journey of the Magi is over. But at that moment a new journey begins for them, an interior pilgrimage that changes their whole life. The Magi from the East are only the beginning of a long procession of people who in their lives have constantly looked for God's star, sought this God who is close to us, human beings, and who shows us the way. Let us join this procession of people seeking and finding God every day.
The Wise Men would not have met God if He had not assumed human form. TheWise Men would not have met God if they had not made the effort of searching. Let us walk in life with Christ and live in adoration of God!
Until Tomorrow
fr. george