HOMILY: EPIPHANY SUNDAY, YEAR B
THEME: THE FEAST OF ALL NATIONS.
BY: FR. KARABARI PAUL
‘The nations come to your light and Kings to your drawing brightness’ (Isaiah 60:3).
Again and again, we should thank God for not being a customized robot. It is beyond the power of man to selfishly direct all God’s love and blessing to himself while blocking others. It is funny to see Christians who already know denominations and sects that will never make heaven. God is the father of all nations.
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Today, we celebrate Epiphany. It is the feast of all nations because on this day, we celebrate the manifestation of Christ, the true light, to all nations. Epiphany means ‘manifestation’ or ‘showing’. Originally, it referred to the visit of a king to the people of his province. Courtiers would ensure good attendance by throwing coins to the people along the way; the king’s visit was accompanied by a great parade, and he usually gave a banquet to which citizens were invited. He declared amnesty for political prisoners and did everything he could to ensure the people’s loyalty.
The feast is a delight to those who are considered outsiders and therefore unacceptable to God. In the First Reading (Isaiah 60:1-6), the Prophet encouraged the people by telling them Jerusalem would be a gathering place for all nations of the world, and God’s presence among the Jews. Simeon had foretold that the Divine Babe would be a Light to the Gentiles. The Psalmist had foretold that the kings of the East would come to do homage to Emmanuel.
As seen in the Gospel (Matthew 2:1-12), at His birth, there were the Magi ( Wise men). These men were led by a star. Remarkably, God spoke to the Gentiles through nature; to the Jews, through prophets. And we have to understand that He must not speak only from our own pulpit. A star led the wise men to the Star of Jacob. Star-gazers followed a star and found a baby through whom God would light up the world. Though coming from a land that worshipped stars, they surrendered that religion as they fell down and worshipped Him, who made the stars. It is increasingly difficult for the modern man to worship the Giver of gifts instead of the gifts.
Every gift they offered was significant. Today, we give to God what we no longer need. We give remnants. We come to church when we are less busy. We give to the poor what we can no longer use. Everything is done only at our convenience. It is never costly. We take the painless part and cover it with excuses.
The journey of the Magi is symbolic. And it is a symbol of the journey of each one of us. It was not without difficulties that the Magi came to believe in Jesus. The trip was long and hard. It is equally with great difficulties that many today struggle with their journey toward God, and we should sympathize with those whose struggle is hard.
There are those who, like Herod, hate and fear. Feeling threatened by the star of the child of Bethlehem, they plot to destroy the work of God among people. They feel it should all be theirs. The progress and success stories of others become a threat to them. They become sleepless over the joy of others. But Herod couldn’t work alone. He expected the wise men to return to him. In our world today, some would return to Herod, not minding the earlier warnings. They would return for what they would gain. Even if they realised that Herod meant evil, they would still return to evil. Wickedness exists because it has workers. Again, some enquiries are deceptive and only snares for destruction. May God deliver us from the deceit of Herods around us. We may ask fittingly; how old was Herod? And how old was the newborn king? Would Herod not die before the child would grow to maturity as to ascend the throne? Wickedness blocks reasoning. Like Herod, and by our negative ambition, we have obstructed those who were genuinely searching for God. May God have mercy on us.
We are to be so large-minded as to welcome among us all seekers, no matter how far from us in outlook or attitude. At the heart of this, is a great revelation that God’s love, mercy, and grace were meant not for the Jews alone but for all people; men and women, Jews and Gentiles, slave and free, black and white. The walls of hate and divisions must be destroyed. We are all called to fill ourselves with the Light of Christ and to labour hard to bring it to those in darkness. GOD IS STILL ON THE THRONE. May God bless and protect us this year and increase His grace in us through Christ our Lord Amen. Happy Celebration.
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