THE SOLEMNITY OF THE EPIPHANY
On this Solemnity of the Epiphany, we reflect on the visit of the wise men to Baby Jesus. As per church tradition, these wise men were kings from the East who decided to look for the infant king who was born in Bethlehem.
Without any Google Map or GPS, they reached their destination to adore Baby Jesus
Without a GPS or Google Maps to help them, the three wise men went to find Baby Jesus, relying instead on their faith in the star. They left their comfortable palaces behind in search of the King of All Rulers, who was born today in the manger. Although, they encountered several obstacles along the road, their desire to see Jesus made the journey simple and tolerable.
Meeting and Adoring Baby Jesus
The three wise men reached their goal at last. When they arrived at the home and saw the baby lying there with his mother, Mary, they were overjoyed. They got their wish to see the baby Jesus. They were greeted at the home by his innocent baby gaze rather than words. It was a blessing for the earthly rulers to be in the presence of the Holy One, the Universal King.
They bowed down and worshipped him. They humbled themselves before the Lord and submitted their kingship to the one and only King of all kings.
Offering their gifts to Baby Jesus
Then they opened their treasures and presented him with gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh. The gold for royalty represents Jesus' kingship; the frankincense used in worship represents Jesus' divinity; and the myrrh, a burial ointment, represents Jesus' humanity, particularly his passion and death.
Returning home through another route
They took a different path home after receiving a warning in a dream not to return to Herod. Although it would have been simpler for them to go back home via their original route, they obeyed God and chose a new route. Once more, without a GPS or Google map to direct them, they managed to safely make it back home thanks to his divine presence.
TAKE AWAYS FROM THE VISIT OF THREE WISE MEN TO BABY JESUS
1) To prepare ourselves in mind and heart to encounter Jesus
Before we enter his house (church), we have a burning desire to see him and meet him. We prepare ourselves in mind and heart to meet him especially in the Eucharist.
2) To surrender ourselves to him when we meet him.
When we meet him, in humility, we surrender to him our entire lives, our possessions, our families, our jobs, and our abilities. He owns everything that we possess. Through our worship in the Eucharist, we submit ourselves to the Creator.
3) To present him with a gift
When we approach him, we do not come before him empty-handed. We bring something to him. Along with the bread and wine we also bring our individual praise, our thanksgiving, our struggles, our hardship, and also our sins.
4) To receive his blessings and return home through another route
He welcomes us and doesn't send us away empty-handed. He blesses us and sends us home in a different way. Every encounter with him in the Mass changes us and we are told to take a new path, different from old path. In our new path, we are not alone. He walks with us through his guidance, grace, and strength.
God bless you.
Fr. Vincent Barboza