Homily for the Epiphany of the Lord

On this Feast of the Epiphany, we place in our crèches, our Nativity scenes, statues representing the Three Kings or the Three Wise Men who came from the East. On seeing the star in the sky, the Three Kings began to follow it to Bethlehem, where they would offer the Infant Jesus their gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh. 

These expensive gifts have a symbolic meaning: gold gives acclaim to the kingship of Jesus. The frankincense acknowledges and praises Jesus' divinity. Myrrh recognizes Jesus' humanity and that He would experience death and burial. 

As we celebrate the Magi's visit to the Bethlehem Manger, we contemplate every Christian's commitment to spreading the Gospel. We are called to bring tidings of great joy to all people, not just in our words but in our actions, bringing the love and mercy of Jesus to those most in need.

A lesson that the visit of the Magi teaches us is that all of us are on a journey toward Christ, and some of us seem to come from afar, while some of us not so far. The Magi came from lofty places, yet they traveled afar to see a baby in a manger, a stable, for livestock. Instead of being repulsed by these surroundings, they fell to their knees in worship and adoration, filled with tremendous joy, a joy they would share with others as they told their story as they returned to their lands.

May our experience of the Manger Scene also fill us with great joy. May that joy and that knowledge of our Savior be shared by us in the ways we lead our lives and in the ways that we seek to bring the love, mercy, and peace of the Christ Child to all we meet.