Homily for Epiphany Year B 2018
Isaiah 60:1-6; Ephesians 3:2-3a.5-6; Matthew 2:1-12
Introduction
"Who will go to heaven and who to hell?" Well, that question is really beyond my pay-grade, because it depends on many factors and it is God who decides that. But as to "who is invited into heaven?" That's a question I can answer. All men and women are invited into the Kingdom, because God "wills everyone to be saved and to come to knowledge of the truth" (1 Tim. 2:4). This universal invitation into the Kingdom is the theme of today's feast of the Epiphany.
Scripture and Theology
Twelve days ago at Christmas, we celebrated the revelation of God's Son to the world, in the person of the baby Jesus, that was born in Bethlehem. So far we have seen him welcomed by various representatives of the Jewish people.
- On the night he was born, the shepherds in Bethlehem welcomed the child Jesus and the good news of salvation that his birth brought.
- At his presentation in the Temple, the baby was welcomed by the Prophets Simeon and Anna, who confirmed that he was the Saviour of the World!
Today we celebrate his revelation, his manifestation, his epiphany to the rest of the world, to the pagans, to the Gentiles. The Magi also called the three wise men or three Kings from East, who, were looking for Jesus led by the star are representatives of the pagan world, of non-Jews, of us the Gentiles. For even to them, even to us, the love of God in Jesus had to be announced.
That Jesus came to save, not just the Jewish people, but the whole world, is confirmed even in the Jewish scriptures, from some of which we read today.
In today's first reading we heard Isaiah tell the people of Israel that salvation belongs to the whole world. In the future, 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 Isaiah added, "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 include virtually the known world of the time, including Sheba which is located in present-day Ethiopia. And so, Isaiah, writing about 700 years before the birth of Christ already expressed this openness of salvation to the whole world.
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, the apostle Paul never tires of proclaiming that his mission is precisely that of bringing the gospel to the pagans, to the Gentiles. In today's second reading Paul reminds the Ephesians of the revelation that all people are called, in Christ Jesus, to share the same inheritance as the Jews; "that the Gentiles are coheirs, members of the same body, and copartners in the promise in Christ Jesus through the gospel." That is why Paul is called the Apostle of the Gentiles, dedicating his efforts and in fact giving up his life so the Gentiles may know the salvation that has been revealed in Jesus Christ.
We must not forget, however, that the Jewish people had a special place and role in God's plan of salvation. That is why the three wise men had to come to Jerusalem and on arriving there they asked: “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. In fact "Jesus of Nazareth King of the Jews" is the title of mockery that the soldiers would place above him on the cross. But that is also why King Herod, a usurper of David's throne was threatened by the news of the birth of another King of the Jews, a legitimate King.
These three Gentile seekers followed the star to find him and after a long, treacherous and possibly expensive journey they did. "On entering the house they saw the child with Mary his mother. They prostrated themselves and did him homage [as is deserving of a King]. Then they opened their treasures and offered him gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh." To the shepherds on Christmas Day, Jesus was revealed as King of the Jews; to the three wise men from the East, Jesus is revealed as King of the Jews and King of the World.
We can think of the Jewish people as being like yeast that is not meant to be eaten by itself, but is meant to leaven up the whole batch of dough. And so, God chose them and worked through them, and sent Jesus through them, so that they would be a light for the whole world. In fact, Isaiah said as much in today's reading when he reminded Israel: "Nations shall walk by your light, and kings by your shining radiance." For as we know, a flashlight is shone, not to illuminate itself, but so that others can see better by it.
Christian Life
That is a role that we have inherited. Christianity unlike other religions, unlike Judaism, has never been a religion for a small select group. Christ, his message and the church he founded all proclaim the universality of salvation brought and accomplished by Christ. This is the meaning of the feast of Epiphany.
At that time, it was very clear who the Jews were and who the pagans to be welcomed were. Today, we could say that as Christians and even as Catholics we must think of our special calling, not as some badge of honour, but like it was for the Jews, as a mandate for action. We must be the light that draws others to Christ. We must be the leaven that expands the love of Jesus in the world.
That is why the Church never tires of its missionary mandate, sending missionaries to bring the gospel to those who have not yet heard it. Missionaries go everywhere, even in countries where their lives are in danger. You probably heard about that Indian priest who was kidnapped in Yemen for many years and was only released recently. The preaching by the church continues to manifest Jesus to the whole world, like the star guided the Magi to the child Jesus.
Besides preaching the gospel with words, we also do so in action, especially by our works of charity, even to those who don't believe. Think of the many Catholic organizations in the world, like Catholic Charities here at home and Catholic Relief Services abroad, that bring Jesus to others in the form of charity. A lady who works for Catholic Relief Services in one of the Syrian Refugee camps in Lebanon put it best. She said that when a little Muslim girl receives her daily meals from a group of people in a van tagged "Catholic Relief Services" she begins to associate kindness and charity with Catholics; and perhaps later on she will realize that they do this because of Jesus Christ who tells them to.
But perhaps there are pagans and Gentiles closer to home, who we must also guide to Jesus. I can think of our non-practicing family and friends, who come to church only three times in life, to be hatched, matched and despatched at baptism, the wedding and the funeral and perhaps at Christmas and Easter. Like Herod who also received the news of the star and the birth of the child, but chose not to welcome him, they too have a right to hear the gospel again and see the star that guides them to the child. We have to be that star, even as we leave to them the final decision of accepting or rejecting the invitation to salvation.
Conclusion
We can be this star, to those who are near and far, as individual Catholics and as a Church, in the words of gospel that we share, in the lived example of our life, and in the prayers we offer that every nation on earth will adore our God.
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