Homily for the Epiphany of the Lord

On this Feast of the Epiphany, we place the figures of the Three Kings in our nativity scene. Following the star, the Magi journeyed from the East to Bethlehem to find the Infant Jesus and offer Him gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh. These expensive gifts carry deep symbolic meaning: gold honors Jesus' kingship, incense honors His divinity, and myrrh honors His humanity, which would experience death and burial.

As we reflect on this aspect of the nativity scene, we are reminded of every Christian's responsibility to be a herald of the Gospel. We are called to bring glad tidings to all we meet, witnessing to this through our acts of mercy and sharing the joy of knowing God's love.

The Three Kings illustrate that people may reach Christ through a long and winding path. These men of wealth and wisdom, seeking the infinite, embarked on a challenging journey to Bethlehem. They experienced incredible joy upon finding themselves in the presence of the Infant Jesus.

Unfazed by His humble surroundings, they knelt to worship the Newborn King. In doing so, they recognized that the God who guides the stars with infinite wisdom also guides the life of our world, casting down the mighty and uplifting the lowly. Upon returning home, they surely shared their extraordinary encounter with the Messiah, thus beginning the spread of the Gospel among all peoples and nations, a mission that we continue to this very day.