Fr. Luke McNamara. Most of what happens in life we don’t notice. Even if we do notice, the significance of what happens mostly passes us by. Today’s celebration of the Epiphany allows us to look again at the birth of Jesus, and what it signifies for us.
The Epiphany, which celebrates the manifestation of Jesus to the world over 2,000 years ago, is not a historic celebration. The antiphons that we sing repeat the word hodie or “today”. The manifestation of Jesus to the world is happening here and now in 2025. We don’t have to wait until the final coming of Jesus or even until the next visit of a new star or comet.
To avoid missing out on discovering Jesus and the love that he brings, today we have the opportunity to follow the Magi. Tradition says that they are 3 wise kings, Caspar, Melchior, and Balthasar, and that they are from three different continents, Asia, Africa, and Europe. The Gospel is silent on all this. For the early Irish monks, the Magi were a large group of ordinary people, men and women, young and old, who travelled to see Jesus. Our ancestors understood that everyone has the possibility of going to see Jesus.
The Magi look for signs of Jesus’ coming – the star in the sky. They go on a long journey. They find at Bethlehem an ordinary sight, an infant with his mother. Yet, by observing the natural world (the star), by being attentive to those around them (the people of Jerusalem) and to the word of the Lord (the prophecy of Micah), they recognise the Saviour in their midst, as shown by the gifts they bring and by their worship. They are the first in a long line of disciples who come and worship Jesus.
They bring gifts of gold signifying his royal status, frankincense his priestly role and myrrh for his burial. The gifts, especially the myrrh point to the extent of Jesus’ love for us. Jesus will give his life for us that we might live. The Magi recognise the extent of Jesus’ love, as shown by their gifts and their worship.
We all need the power of God’s love in our lives. The question of the Magi, where is the newborn king of the Jews becomes our question. The search of the Magi becomes our search. The presenting of gifts and worship of the Magi becomes our worship, even at this very Mass. The transformation of the Magi who walk the earth in a new way, is also ours as we are sent forth from this Mass renewed with the gift of God’s love manifested to us in Jesus.
I conclude with a traditional Irish prayer for this time of year:
A Íosa naofa, a Chara caomh,
A Réalt na maidine, A Ghrian álainn an lánlae,
A Bhreo ghil na bhfíréan agus na firinne,
A Thobar bithnua, tabhair dúinn do ghrá.
Holy Jesus, gentle friend,
Star of the morning, glorious sun of the noonday,
Bright light of believers and of truth,
Well of everlasting life, grant us your love.