Homily For Sunday, the Solemnity of the Epiphany of the Lord, 7th January, 2024

Readings: Isaiah 60:1-6, Ps. 72, Eph 3:2-3.5-6, Matt.2:1-12

Rev. Fr. Emmanuel Emenike Onyia.

 

THE JOURNEY OF THE THREE WISE MEN AND MANIFESTATION OF THE LORD THE LIGHT OF OUR FAITH

 

Today the Church celebrates the Solemnity of the Epiphany of our Lord, an occasion where we continue to contemplate and celebrate the mystery of the birth of Jesus. Epiphany was first celebrated in Africa, Egypt precisely, where it was used to replace a pagan feast, where the people celebrate the victory of light over darkness.

 

However, the word “Epiphany” means manifestation or revelation. So it is the solemnity of the manifestation of the Lord the Light of our faith. Thus in our first reading, we heard the prophet Isaiah saying: Arise, shine out, Jerusalem, for your light has come, the glory of the Lord is rising on you, all are assembling and coming towards you. Your sons from far away and your daughters being tenderly carried in the arms.

 

 In our Gospel passage we see how the Wise Men being led by a star journeyed a long distance in search of the newborn king. They were probably sages in search of something more about life, in search of the true light that could point out the path to the true meaning of life. This journey of the Wise Men was bold, courageous and imaginative. Some persons may appear to be foolish even a little crazy. No doubt that they encountered many difficulties and experienced some moments of doubt and danger. Yet despite the difficulties, doubt and dangers they preserved in their search and were joyful when they finally found the baby Jesus.

 

Thus, today the Wise Men find, crying in a manger, the one they have followed as he shone in the sky. They saw, in swaddling clothes, the one they had long awaited as he lay hidden among the stars. Today, the Wise Men gaze in deep wonder at what they see: heaven on earth, earth in heaven, man in God, God in man, one whom the whole universe cannot contain now enclosed in a tiny body. As they look, they believe and do not question anymore, as their symbolic gifts bear witness: incense for God, gold for a king, myrrh for one who is to die.

 

In this journey the light of a star guided them, they did not know where the star was leading them. Hence, their journey was very much a journey of faith, knowing that the star was a means by which a great mystery was to be revealed. The journey of these Wise Men symbolizes our journey of faith and it can serve as a model for us as we struggle on our journey of faith. For the faith of the Wise Men is the first fruit of the belief of the Gentiles, so the Gentiles, who were the last, became the first.

 

The same is our journey, for just as they were guided by the light of a star so we are guided by the light of faith. Little wonder in our second reading we heard St Paul saying: This mystery that has now been revealed through the Spirit to his holy apostles and prophets was unknown to any men in past generations; it means that pagans now share the same inheritance, that they are parts of the same body, and that the same promise has been made to all, in Jesus Christ, through the Gospel.

 

Dear friends, we can learn something great from these Wise Men. First, their journey was one of searching and questioning, of fear and hope, of pain and joy. It is not an easy journey. Our journey of faith contains all of these elements. Like the Wise Men, we can expect to encounter difficulties and experience doubts. But, we can draw inspiration from their courage and perseverance.

 

Also, we can learn something about Herod. As the Wise Men journeyed through the great city of Bethlehem the star disappeared, they could no longer see it. For them, it was logical to seek the new king in the royal palace, where they believed that wise men were to be found. But to their amazement, the newborn child was not found in the places of power and culture. Hence, King Herod in anger seeks to kill the child.

 

Here, perhaps, we should ask ourselves: is there something of Herod in us? Have we in any way seen God as a sort of rival? Have we been blind to the signs God is offering us or pay deaf ears to his words because we think he is setting limits on our lives and does not allow us to live as we wish?

 

Another thing we can learn from the Wise Men is that, they did not travel alone, they traveled in a little community of three believers. We then, must not try to make the journey of our faith alone, we need to journey with our brothers and sisters in our community. We need to support one another. However, we have one great advantage over these Wise Men. At the start of their journey, they knew nothing about Christ. We already know Christ and have encountered him in faith.

 

Nevertheless, the fact that we have not seen him face-to-face means we have not yet arrived at our final destination. So we are still searching, still journeying to encounter Jesus the light of the world. Thus the journey of faith is the journey of a lifetime. The goal of this journey is to arrive at the heavenly Bethlehem where we can see Jesus and experience his glory.

 

LET US PRAY: Heavenly Father, as we celebrate the manifestation of your Son Jesus today, let the light of his presence dispel the darkness in our lives, in our families, societies and so illuminate our paths as we struggle and journey in faith towards achieving our goals and purposes in life. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen. God bless you.