Homily for Epiphany Year ABC 2019
Isaiah 60:1-6; Ephesians 3:2-3a.5-6; Matthew 2:1-12
Introduction
Human beings are always in search of something greater than themselves. This urge to search starts when we are children. Recently I was showing a group of Catholic middle school kids around our seminary campus, and as you can imagine, they had many questions. There was this particular girl who had her hand up constantly asking questions, until the teachers told her to stop. For my part, I was just happy that somebody was interested in what I had to say. And as the popular saying goes: "There is no such thing as a stupid question." For it is only in asking and seeking that we know and learn more.
But the far more important searching and seeking is for the transcendent, for spiritual things. That is why we have a proliferation of churches. That is why we have tonnes of New Age like groups and occult movements such as Wicca, Voodoo, crystal ball and palm readers, horoscopes to name but a few. People realize that this world as we know it cannot be all that there is; people have many spiritual problems and they try to find answers for them in all manner of places.
Scripture and Theology
The search for God is not a recent phenomenon. The wise men or Magi in today’s gospel are also searching for meaning and truth. That is why on arriving in Jerusalem they asked: “Where is the newborn king of the Jews?”
Now this at first might appear like a stupid question. Why were these foreigners, non-Jews, asking about the birth of the king of the Jews? Moreover, there was a king of the Jews, albeit a usurper of the throne, King Herod. So why risk charges of treason by asking about a newborn King of the Jews?
But the Magi were not asking a stupid question. They were searching for something and had been doing so for a long time. They were on a quest, and being astrologers, they had put their trust in the star that would lead them to the object of their quest. That is why made a stop in Jerusalem, to make some inquiries. As you can imagine the star was not like our modern GPS, that gives you turn by turn directions. And so like in the old days of using maps, they had to stop at the equivalent of the gas station to ask for clearer directions that would lead them to: “Where is the newborn king of the Jews?”
When King Herod heard about their quest, for quite selfish reasons he offered to help them. He called the religious leaders and sent them off the library to do some research. They searched the Bible and in the prophecies of Micah and Samuel, found that the promised Messiah would be born in Bethlehem.
With this information Herod sent the men off to Bethlehem, asking them to return to him after they found the newborn King. We heard that they followed the star to Bethlehem, and "On entering the house they saw the child with Mary his mother. They prostrated themselves and did him homage. Then they opened their treasures and offered him gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh." And so, after a long, treacherous and possibly expensive journey, these seekers found what they were looking for: Jesus Christ, the King of the Jews, light of the world.
But why were these foreigners seeking the King of the Jews? We heard Isaiah tell the people of Israel that the whole world would be saved and that the people of Israel would be God's instrument of salvation. He told them that nations would "all gather and come to you: your sons come from afar, and your daughters in the arms of their nurses." In addition, "the wealth of nations shall be brought to you. Caravans of camels shall fill you, dromedaries from Midian and Ephah; all from Sheba shall come bearing gold and frankincense, and proclaiming the praises of the LORD." The regions mentioned here are virtually the known world of the time, including Sheba, present-day Ethiopia.
A similar sentiment was expressed by today's Psalm 72, whose response was: "Lord, every nation on earth will adore you!" The Psalm expressed the hope that a future King, the Messiah, would not only rule with justice and peace, but would "rule from sea to sea, and from the River to the ends of the earth. . . . . [and] other nations would "pay him homage, all nations shall serve him."
And turning to the New Testament, we heard the apostle Paul, who never tires of proclaiming that his mission is precisely that of bringing the gospel to the pagans, to the Gentiles. In today's reading St. Paul reminds the Ephesians of the revelation to which all people are called, in Christ Jesus just like the Jews. For "the Gentiles are coheirs, members of the same body, and copartners in the promise in Christ Jesus through the gospel."
And so, although God's salvation is open to the whole world, it had to pass through the chosen people of Israel, especially since the Messiah would come from them. That is why the three wise men were asking: “Where is the newborn king of the Jews?” Jesus was first and foremost the King of the Jews and then of the rest of the world. To the shepherds we read about on Christmas Day, Jesus was revealed as King of the Jews; to the wise men from the East Jesus is revealed as also being King of the World, the true answer to their quest.
Christian Life
I am reminded of a story told by a religious brother who taught me in high school, about the arrival of the new religions to Uganda in the nineteenth century. It is about a man who was not satisfied with his traditional religion, what with its unseemly practices like human sacrifice, and was searching for something better.
So when the Muslims came about 1870, and he heard them preach, he went to them and quickly began to learn their religion, especially the five pillars of Islam. He had decided to become a Muslim when the issue of circumcision came up. As you can imagine, he hightailed out of there and continued his search.
The next group of preachers to come were the Anglicans in 1877 and so he went to them too. He found their message appealing, especially Jesus' teaching about love of God and neighbour and so began to go to their church. But the Protestants had this practice of having to carry their bibles to the Church every Sunday, besides a few other demands. This was a little too much for our friend.
Two years later, in 1879, the Catholic Missionaries came, and his search took him to them. Although they were quite demanding, what with things like learning the Catechism, Ten Commandments, Sacraments, he was happy to find a tradition and hierarchy going back 1900 years to Jesus Christ. He joined them and stayed with them until he died. He had found his true home, where there was no carrying heavy books to church and most of all, no bodily mutilation.
Like I said already, we today are also searching for meaning. We have profound philosophical questions about the meaning of life, death, the universe; we have profound religious questions about who God is, what he does, and what he wants us to do; we have more immediate and practical questions about our health and our jobs, our families and our children's future, our society and our government. Where are we searching for answers? Are we following the light of the right star?
Boudreaux was walking home from the bar and he saw Thibodeaux on his knees under the street light, searching for something. “What are you looking for?” he asked.
“Oh I am looking for my house keys,” said Thibodeaux.
So his buddy got down on all fours under the light and joined in the search.
After looking for almost half an hour, Boudreaux asked his friend if he was sure that he had lost the keys in this very area.
"Oh, no!” said Thibodeaux. “I lost them way over there by the Bayou."
Shocked and surprised at that answer, Boudreaux asked him why then he was looking for the keys in this spot.
"Oh", Thibodeaux said, "because the light is better here under the street lamp".
Unfortunately, like Thibodeaux sometimes we also seek answers in the wrong places, just because those places are more attractive, convenient and easier. Unlike the Magi, we sometimes leave the light of the true star of Scripture, the Tradition and the Teaching of the Church, that should lead us to Jesus Christ, the King of the Jews and the King of the World.
Conclusion
One final thought, searching is all good and great; but what do we do at the end of our search? What do we do with our findings?
On finding the child Jesus, the Magi worshipped him and offered him the gifts of gold, incense and myrrh, gifts fit for a king. We too, after finding our quest, our response should be like that of the Magi taking the two main forms of devout worship of God and good works towards our neighbour.
And so, on finding Jesus we certainly worship him especially at Mass but also in private prayer; and then when dismissed by the priest or deacon, to "go in peace glorifying the Lord by our lives" or to "go and proclaim the gospel of the Lord", we must take Jesus to others, both in our words and in our actions.
For we are not the only seekers; other seekers, other Magi of today will come to us like they did to King Herod and ask us: "Where is the newborn king of the Jews?". What will your answer be? Where will you direct them? Will you provide them with the light that leads to Christ, both in words and in action?
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