In the Gospel text for the Feast of Epiphany (Matthew 2:1-12), we are reminded that the Magi were able to find the exact place where the incarnated God was, making his epiphany, making his visible appearance. It was a certain star that guided their way from the east. Thus, the Magi must have been very vigilant observers of stars.
The word, “epiphany”(
ἐπιφάνεια) literally means “appearing to” and is derived from Greek.
Etymologically, “epiphany” is made of “ἐπι/epi”(to) and “φαίνειν/phainein”(to
show, to cause it to appear, to manifest visibly). It is also helpful to know a
bit more of the background of the word, “epiphany”. The main component, “phainein”,
is related to “φως/phos”, which means “light” in Greek. So, the
word, “photo” comes from “phos”. So now you know “epiphany”(visible
manifestation, appearance) has something to do with light (phos). In
fact, light is what makes an object visible to our eyes. And it is light that
reaches the retina of our eyes, where energy of light is converted ionic
electric energy that runs through neurons to be interpreted in the brain, in
order for us to see things.
Remember, Christ can
make epiphany himself. Why? Because he is the light (John 8:12; Revelation
21:23).
It is also important to
reflect and appreciate Epiphany in the spectrum of the progressive revelation
of the incarnated Christ in his Paschal Mystery, from his Nativity to his death
and Resurrection and further to his Ascension.
The Incarnation took
place in Mary’s womb. Though already incarnated and growing, Christ was not yet
visible yet as he was still hidden inside Mary’s womb. There was no ultra sound
imagery, 2,000 years ago. Nevertheless, Mary must have felt the growing Christ
inside, and Joseph, too, felt it when he placed his hand gently on her abdomen.
The very first visible
revelation of the incarnated Christ (not to confuse with pre-incarnated Christ
appearing as an angel of the Lord to Hager, Genesis 16:7) is the Nativity in
Bethlehem. Mary and Joseph were the very first persons to witness
this very first visible revelation of the incarnated Christ, followed by the
shepherd (Luke 2:4-19).
And, in the east, the
Magi saw a new star rising when Jesus was born (Matthew 2:2), in reference to,
“I see him, though not now; I observe him, though not near: A star shall
advance from Jacob, and a scepter shall rise from Israel” (Numbers
24:17), as in Balaam’s fourth oracle. Discovery of a new star was believed to
be a sign of a birth of a (new) king. And, the Magi saw a new star and came to
make homage to this newborn king that the new star indicates.
While the Magi were
still on their way from the east to visit the newborn king, after 40 days of postpartum
purification (Leviticus 12:1-4), Mary and Joseph brought baby Jesus to the
Temple in Jerusalem for the Presentation – the firstborn son dedication to God,
as mandated in Exodus 13:2, 13-14. And, Christ in baby Jesus manifested to
Simeon and Anna at the Presentation in the Temple as they recognize him as the
prophesized Messiah for the redemption (Luke 2:2-38).
And, some time has had
passed after the Holy Family returned from Jerusalem to Nazareth (Luke 2:39),
the Magi finally found the incarnated Christ in his epiphany in the house
(Matthew 2:11a) and presented three gifts” gold, frankincense, and myrrh
(Matthew 2:11b). The Magi knew that they traveled all the way from the east to
pay homage to the newborn King of the Jews (Matthew 2:2). Thus, obviously, the
first gift to be presented to baby Jesus was gold to honor his royalty (i.e. 2
Chronicles 9:20). But, the Magi might have recognized the divinity in this
newborn king in presenting frankincense, as it signifies oblation to the
divine, as well as purity (Exodus 30:34-38; Leviticus 2:1-2, 15-16; Isaiah
60:6; Jeremiah 17:26). The third gift from the Magi to the newborn King, baby
Jesus, was myrrh. As frankincense and myrrh are closely associated with each
other (i.e. Exodus 30:22-38; Song of Songs 3:6), it makes sense to bring myrrh
together with frankincense. However, myrrh is used for divine anointing (Exodus
30:22-33), as well as, for embalming (John 19:39). It is also noteworthy that
Mary of Bethany, sister of Lazarus and Martha, liberally put expensive perfumed
oil (μύρου/ myrou – myrrh) on Jesus, shortly as to prepare Jesus
for his Passion to fulfill his role as the suffering Messiah, prophesized in
Isaiah 52:13-53:12, 6 days before his death on the Cross (John 12:1-11). Given
these, the Magi could have had a great insight on baby Jesus beyond the fact
that he is the newborn King of the Jews in recognizing his divinity and his
salvific Passion.
What is so significant
about baby Jesus’ manifestation to the Magi to mark this feast of Epiphany? It
was the very first time that incarnated Christ made his visible revelation to
the Gentiles, who recognized him as not only as the King of the Jews but also
God and the Messiah, who goes on his Passion.
After this
manifestation, the next manifestation is at his Baptism (Matthew 3:13–17; Mark
1:9–11; Luke 3:21–23). It was when the incarnated Christ made his public
appearance, marking the beginning of his public ministry, which leads him to
the Cross, and he was 30 (Luke 3:23).
Then, the next
manifestation is at his first miracle – when he turned water into the choicest
wine during wedding reception at Cana (John 2:1-12).
Jesus then continued on
showing himself around through Galilee and also in Judea, teaching the Good
News of salvation – Gospel and healing the sick and raising the dead. In
response, some came to believe and gained a kind of Christological insights in
Jesus but many rejected him.
While people in Galilee
and Judea showed mixed response to Jesus, some recognizing him as the Messiah,
the Christ, others contemptuously regarded him as “son of Joseph” (John 6:42)
and angrily accused him of blasphemy (i.e. Matthew 9:2-3; John 10:33, 36), leading
to his martyrdom (i.e. John 5:16; Mark 14:61; John 19:7).
Toward the middle of his
3-year public ministry, the incarnated Christ was in Transfiguration. And this
is another manifestation but a manifestation in his divine glory, only made to
Peter, James, and John (Matthew 17:1–8, Mark 9:2–8, Luke 9:28–36). And, this
great theophany of Jesus in glory, Transfiguration, is a response to Peter’s
proclamation of Jesus as “the Messiah, the Son of the living God “(Matthew
16:16), followed by the first foretelling of Jesus’ Passion and Resurrection
(Matthew 16:21).
So, the phenomena,
called Epiphany, baby Jesus making visible manifestation first-time to the
Gentiles, the Magi, marks the beginning to fulfill Psalm 93:3b, “All the
ends of the earth have seen the victory of our God”, the victory of
Jesus’ Paschal Mystery to be known to all over the world, because Jesus, whom
the Magi recognized as the King of the Jews, is not just for the Jews but for
all the nations on earth, as well as of the universe. And, this is also
reflected in these words of Paul to the Ephesians from the Second Reading
(Ephesians 3: 3:2-3a, 5-6):
The Gentiles are
coheirs, members of the same body, and copartners in the promise in Christ
Jesus through the gospel. Ephesians
3:6
And Paul succinctly
tells how Christ’s visible and progressive manifestations, which includes
Epiphany, the incarnated Christ’s first manifestation to the Gentile Magi, as
the Paschal Mystery of Christ being made known (Ephesians 3:3).
The First Reading
(Isaiah 60:1-6), which characterizes the bright glorious light of Christ in
Isaiah’s prophecy, affirms the etymological nature of the word, epiphany, as “epi”(to)
and “phainein”(appear, manifest), and “phainen” is related to “phos”(light).
The Magi recognized the great light in this baby born of Mary in the house of the Holy Family in Nazareth, when they made homage to him, recognizing not only as the King, but also as God, and the suffering Messiah. And, they were able to make it to the exact place where the incarnated Christ in baby Jesus was, as guided by a newborn star, which was born at his Nativity.
As Zachariah prophesized
as the daybreak from the heaven above (Luke 1:78), Isaiah prophetically saw the
Nativity of the incarnated Christ, the very first visible manifestation or
revelation of the incarnated Christ in baby Jesus, as the dawn of the glory of
God (Isaiah 60:1). From this beginning, the God’s glorious light in the
incarnated Christ is made visible to those who are with faith and wisdom
through the Holy Spirit. And, this daybreak of the divine glorious light in the
incarnated Christ first appeared in Bethlehem, fulfilling:
But you,
Bethlehem-Ephrathaha, least among the clans of Judah, from you shall come forth
for me, one who is to be ruler in Israel; whose origin is from of old, from
ancient times. Micah 5:1
Ironically, this was
cited when Herod the Great asked his religious consultants, “Where is the
newborn king of the Jews? We saw his star at its rising and have come to do him
homage? (Matthew 2:2), to tell that the newborn King was born in
Bethlehem (Matthew 2:5-6). This gave Herod an impression that he
would be found in Bethlehem or its adjacent areas, though Jesus was actually in
Nazareth with Mary and Joseph. However, Herod’s thinking that Bethlehem is
where his political threat, the newborn King of the Jews, is, he was not only
greatly troubled about this matter (Matthew 2:3) but also massacred children of
age 2 and under in Bethlehem and its vicinities (Matthew 2:13, 16-18).
As we celebrate
Epiphany, visible manifestation of the incarnated Christ in baby Jesus,
appearing to and recognized by the Magi, who were Gentiles, we are, indeed,
inspired to seek out this incarnated Christ on our journey of faith, so that we
can encounter him at various points of his life and in his Pascal Mystery: from
his Nativity to his Baptism, during Christmas Season, and throughout his public
ministry years to prepare ourselves for his Parousia during
Ordinary Time, toward his Passion during Lenten Season, through his Passion
into Resurrection, during Paschal Triduuum, and from Resurrection to Ascension
and Pentecost during Paschal Season. Unless we find and encounter Christ, our
faith lacks its authenticity. So, let us get ourselves in gear to pay our homage
to Christ the King, the Son of God, and the Messiah.
For the Magi, it was a
star born on the day of Christ’s Nativity to be guided. But, for us, it is
always the Holy Spirit and Mary, who is not only the Mother of God but our
mother, as well. After all, Mary is our Stella Maris, as well as, our Perpetual
Help.
No comments:
Post a Comment