The Epiphany of the Lord | Sunday Reflection

“Three members of an obscure Persian sect walked haphazard by starlight, straight into the kingdom of heaven.” So wrote the poet U.A. Fanthorpe. Led by a remarkable sign in the heavens, the magi—traditionally presented as three kings—came to the feet of the Infant Jesus. In their surrender to Him, the door of the kingdom of heaven was thrown open to us. Ancient Jewish prophecy foretold a Savior, not just for God’s people Israel, but for all nations (Isa 60:3, 10-11).

Ancient imagery depicts the magi as Persian priests. When Persian forces invaded Palestine in AD 614, they destroyed many shrines. However, they stopped in their tracks when they saw images of the magi depicted in familiar Persian robes on the Church of the Nativity. They spared it. Seeing how their fellow Persians were venerated there, they could not destroy the Church of the Nativity. (G. Gorny, Three Kings: Ten Mysteries)

Coins depicting a remarkable star continued to be minted for some time after the events related today in Matthew’s Gospel. One coin depicts a ram looking back at a bright star. This seems to have been Roman spin identifying Caesar as the leader indicated by the star—propaganda against strong expectation of a Messiah from Israel. Since Roman propaganda could not deny the dramatic heavenly sign gripping popular imagination, the empire, instead, tried to hijack the interpretation of the star. (Fr. Douglas Mc Gonagle, The Star of Bethlehem). The Roman empire and Herod felt threatened by the star’s significance.

Only the Word of God rightly interprets the sign. Numbers 24:17 reads: “a star shall come out of Jacob, and a scepter shall rise out of Israel.” Micah 5:2 points to Bethlehem. Matthew’s Gospel for today gives the definitive meaning of the star that led generous truth-seekers to “the Child and His Mother.” Having sought the truth, they found and adored God in our flesh—He who is Light from Light. As Pope Benedict XVI remarked, it is not so much the star that guides to the Child as the Child who guides the stars.

Sacred Scripture properly interprets the star, and, through the power of that Word, the magi are led to Bethlehem and a transformative encounter with the Christ Child. Meeting Christ means that we can never be the same again. Their going back “by a different way” doesn’t mean a mere re-routing on the GPS. It means they themselves were changed. They were renewed in Christ as every person is invited to be renewed. To each of us He calls: “Come to me . . .”

Placing the best they had before Christ—exquisite and expensive gifts—they gained the kingdom of heaven. In their adoration and surrender, they lost nothing and gained something much greater than the cream of high culture and learning. The One they sought so sincerely drew them to Himself—the true God, Jesus Christ in the flesh. He is the Holy Door through which we enter full and abundant life.

Pray to the magi for guidance and direction in your life. Ask the intercession of those who followed the star and persevered even when the light disappeared. God chooses us and works in our lives in mysterious but sure ways—a powerful lesson from these members of an obscure Persian sect who walked by starlight into the kingdom of heaven.