Homily for Epiphany

By Audley Robinson, Lay Preacher

“May the words of my mouth and the meditations of my heart always be acceptable to you, our Lord and redeemer.” Amen

In an Epiphany Homily, St Josemaria Escriva once said:
“Like the Magi we have discovered a star: a light and a guide in the sky of our souls”

With an abundance of gratitude and great joy we come to celebrate the feast of the Epiphany as a child is born. A light to envelop the world sent down from Heaven on high to be the spiritual food that nourishes and restores our soul!
Isaiah writes: “Behold the Virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and shall call him Immanuel.”

The story of Epiphany is one of the most magical events in the life of the church. The journey to Epiphany is intertwined with optimism, visitations from ArcAngel Gabriel, Angels on Hillsides and in bed chambers. The Magi, which means wise men, are often portrayed as three Kings. A story also of intrigue, deception and jealousy. All to bring light into a world dominated by Roman rule, where multitudes of travelers journey to a small town in Judea called Bethlehem to submit to a census decreed by Caesar Augustus
Luke describes the events as: “And it came to pass in those days that there went out a decree from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be taxed.”
Everyone under Roman rule was ordered to return to the place of their birth for a census.

I invite you to close your eyes and picture a small  town  2000 years ago, a maze of dusty streets bursting at the seams with weary travelers all seeking shelter. Amongst these are a family: an expectant mother, a father and the only available shelter in the town is a stable with a humble manger. Can you see them and smell the animals? 

(You may open your eyes but hold the image in your hearts!!).  

In the mists of the chaos a child is born, A new light to brighten our souls, a King is born without the worldly adornments of royalty, no palace, no throne or fine linens. Humble and pure. Born in a stable surrounded by farm animals wrapped in Swaddling cloth(from the Greek word Sparagunos ;- to wrap in strips of cloth). The custom of the time was to swaddle the new born. The swaddling cloth binds the newborn providing support, safety and comfort as in the womb. Adult Jesus will be wrapped in linen and laid in the tomb, but a life has to be lived before that happens.

The swaddling cloths are the symbolic thread that joins the witnesses of Christ's birth and leads  them to the baby in a manger. An Angel appears to shepherds on a lonely hillside as they watch over the flocks of sheep. They are told to leave the fields and go down to Bethlehem and pay homage to the baby wrapped in swaddling cloths laying in a manger.

The Magi who have travelled far following a star, in search of a king. Finds a baby wrapped in swaddling clothes.

Epiphany, is also referred to as the12th day of Christmas or Three Kings Day. These Magi or wise men from origins far, follow a bright star in search of a king who would bring abundant light into the world.   The Magi would have traveled the same roads as the multitudes on their way to Bethlehem. The Magi seek out the palace and go directly to see the ruler Herod where you would expect to find a royal birth.  But God's kingdom is not of this world and Jesus came into the world with light, humility and grace.  The Magi meet with Herod who asks them to let him know the whereabouts of the new king when they find him so that he too may go and pay homage. But Herod only has evil intentions in his heart.

An angel appears to the Magi and warns them of Herod’s plot.
Matthew writes: “And having been warned in a dream not to return to Herod they departed for their country by another way.”

The Magi did not return to Herod once they found the baby Jesus they took a different way home. We do not hear anymore about the Magi as they ride off into the light. But the Magi bears witness to the greatest gift that has ever been given to humankind.

A savior is born to bring light into the world, with an abundance of love and compassion. The Magi present gifts fit for a king to a child born in a stable, laying in a manger, surrounded by Farm animals, shepherds a new mother and father. While a bright star shines overhead, bearing witness to the christ child. They give three gifts: 
        Gold:      The markings of wealth fit for a king.
        Frankincense:  The sap from the Boswellia Tree known for its fragrance.
        Myrrh:     Tree resin used in the making of perfume and medicines.
What gifts do we bring to place before the Christ child as we celebrate God’s greatest gift to us. In our modern world of consumerism and want. How do we live into God’s promise of hope, redemption and abundant life.  How do we follow the star into our lives and  into the World? We can give freely of our time, talents and resources as our three gifts, to feed the hungry, shelter the unhoused and give comfort to the sick or lonely.
Epiphany then is the time when we say thank you and acknowledge that the greatest gift that has ever been given to us by a caring, loving and redeeming God. To bring light, hope and abundant love into the darkness of the world. As the Magi who found a baby wrapped in swaddling cloth filled with the expectations of a new realm of light in the world who rejected evil and went on their way allowing the Christ Child to live. Where is God asking us in our lives to step outside our comfort zone and  meet the Christ child?
Amen

---