The Epiphany of the Lord (Homily)
January 02, 2022 11:00 am · Sergio Muñoz Fita
I have confessed before that this Gospel of the Epiphany is probably my favorite page in all of Sacred Scripture. I find the story of the Magi tremendously evocative, and reading it always reminds me of teachings and life lessons that I should never forget. Today, dear brothers and sisters, we celebrate the great Solemnity of the Epiphany, which marks the beginning of salvation for all peoples. Even the Gentiles, among whom we find ourselves, have been the object of God's mercy and have received, through faith, the great gift of Redemption. It is a day of thanksgiving to God and joy for the great love that the Lord has shown us by being born for all of us.
Faith is a walk in the dark. Those who find time to look up to heaven discover a light above that guides us toward the Mystery of God, a God who loves us and who has come down to take us with him to Paradise. He invites us to leave where we are: conversion means abandoning what binds us and making the necessary changes to reach the encounter with Jesus. The Lord has come for everyone, but not everyone is ready to receive him. Many of us are like Herod: we do not want to move from where we are and we see in God a threat to our selfish plans. We are, perhaps, like the priests and scribes consulted by the king. We too know the truth that has been delivered and revealed to us in the Scriptures, we know it but we do not act on it. We sense that setting out and encountering Jesus in truth, in depth, could be a new beginning that would turn our lives upside down. Like the Magi, we would have to adore him, give him everything we have, place ourselves sincerely at his feet, and return to our homes by another path, the path of holiness, generosity, and sacrifice offered out of love.
I think of the story of the Magi, and I am convinced that many times Christian life and holiness is a matter of courage, of daring, of bravery, of that strength that is born of the greatest love, of the greatness of one who decides to jump into the unknown without a parachute, following a little light that flickers in the immense darkness of the night.
The final gesture of the story, in which those men prostrate themselves to adore the poor Child of Bethlehem, also speaks to us of the Mystery of the Eucharist in which we are all called to participate. All the treasures of heaven are hidden in that Host which, under the appearance of bread, contains the physical presence of Jesus Christ, Son of God and Son of Mary. As happened to the Kings, coming to Mass should be the expression of a generous gift in which we place at the Lord's feet all that we have and all that we are. It should be the beginning of a new life that makes us return home, every Sunday, "by another way".
Prayer, adoration, conversion, courage, love, faith, perseverance... there are great teachings here on which we must constantly meditate. Let me point out one last one: "they found the child with Mary, his mother". This is how it has always been. The Mother carries the Son. The Woman guides us to the God made man. The handmaid of the Lord always leads us to the King of the Universe. The masterpiece of creation is a bridge for us to the Creator made child.
On this Solemnity of the Epiphany, may God grant us to adore God "in spirit and in truth," nourished by the Eucharistic Presence of the Lord and lead to a deeper participation in this Mystery. May all peoples find the path that leads to Jesus and may we be for all the star that leads them to this encounter with God made man. May we live the Christian life with generosity, raising our eyes to heaven daily in prayer and receiving from Him the grace to persevere in the pilgrimage of our life. May we too encounter Jesus hand in hand with Mary, so that she may accompany us in this life, protect us from wandering away from her Son, and lead us one day to the eternal joys of Paradise.
