Three qualities we must strive to imbibe

The Epiphany of the Lord

Is 60:1-6; Eph 3:2-6; Mt 2:1-12

The story of the Herod and of the Magi captivates our imagination because somehow it is a reflection of ourselves, or rather of whom we can choose to be. What I mean is that within us there is the potential of turning into the magi. However there is also the possibility of turning into Herod if we are not careful. It is entirely up to us to decide which of these characters that we meet in today's Gospel do we want to take over our lives. We can either sit in our ivory towers as Herod did or else we can decide to risk everything, to embark on a searching expedition as the magi did.

I would like to outline some contrasting qualities between Herod and magi, and through which Christ makes an Epiphany, that is, Christ manifests himself to us, that we may show him to the world

Quality #1: Enchantment

The first difference that we note is that the magi allowed themselves to be enchanted by the star. They saw it not merely for what it is but also read it as a sign pointing at something beyond itself, much more important and much more valuable than the star itself, no matter how awe-inspiring the star itself was. Perhaps we too must let the magi teach us how to be enchanted again and read reality around us - nature itself, events in our personal life history, persons we encounter - as pointers which indicate a path towards Jesus, just as the star did. We have to relearn how to experience life on a deeper level, not just on what appears to the naked eye. We must relearn how to see with our hearts, as it were, and see meanings which we would otherwise very easily miss. The star was there for everyone to see (its not that you can ever hide a star, can you?) and yet only the magi spotted it and recognised its significance.

Hope-less Herod

King Herod on the other hand did not even dare lift his eyes up into the skies. He relied on what others said and knew. He was not ready to think with his own mind and feel with his own heart. He was afraid of losing what he had and what he was grasping at too tightly with clenched fists. He would never allow himself to be enchanted, to express wonder, because that would bring him out of his comfort zone. It would make him rethink some of the ideas that were very dear to him. Being enchanted therefore requires of us a double dose of humility.

Nature, science, life events as stars pointing towards Christ

Some people look at nature from a scientific point of view, which is good, but not enough. Difficulties arise when we simply stop short, appreciating nature and science as things in themselves without allowing them to act as pointers or signs of God's presence, God's power, God's might. When we look at tragic events in our own personal life history in isolation we can very easily get discouraged. But when we dare to look at these events with the same eyes that the magi looked at the star, then something happens: those same events draw us back to Jesus.

Quality #2: Seeking the way. Together.

The second quality that we notice in the magi is that they are constantly seeking the way and they did so together. They travel together, they follow a star, they ask for directions about where the newborn king of the Jews might be. They do not depend on their own resources but also acknowledge that this is a communal endeavour. Our life must be an entire search, which is sometimes tiresome, convoluted, with false starts, periods of discouragement, temptations to turn right back.

Herod stays where he is, in his comfy little palace, not doing any searching, but simply wanting ready made and pre-digested answers from others. He asks the magi to "go and search diligently for the child" but he would do nothing of the sort.

Discerning the way as a community

How do I become a good person? Which is the best way to lead my family? How am I to live as a spouse? Now that my relationship is passing through turmoil, how must I act? There is no easy answer to any of these. Our spiritual life is a journey in which we must constantly seek directions and there are no ready made solutions. This is why we need to constantly seek directions and search actively for the Good, for the Truth, which is Jesus himself. This is not easy, and there will be moments of doubt and discouragement, but that is why we travel in groups, as a church community i mean, as the magi did, so that we can encourage and support each other especially during moments of difficulty.

Quality #3: Grounded in reality

Finally, the gifts are so rich in symbolism but I will only focus on one of them. We are struck by the reality of the cross which is so evident in the third gift of the magi. As we all know, this is what the myrrh symbolized, it being a perfume with which they embalmed the dead. I am bringing this up not to sound dramatic but to indicate how ingrained in reality they were. However although Nicodemus had already prepared 75 pounds of myrrh and the women went early at the tomb the next morning to embalm his body, Jesus did not need it, because he had already risen. The myrrh not only symbolises his passion and death, but above all it symbolises who he is: victory over death. There is no encounter with Jesus without an encounter with the cross, but neither is there a true encounter with Jesus without resurrection in Christ.

Clearly Herod wanted to live in his own puny little world, detached from reality, and seeking to overcome the truth of suffering, and saving his skin by inflicting suffering on others. Such a worldview is not only false, for suffering can never be avoided, it is also sad because the joy of the resurrection can never be experienced.

To embrace the truth of the cross is to embrace the resurrection

Christmas cannot be fully appreciated if it is not also understood in the light of the passion death and resurrection of Jesus. We cannot live a life hiding from the reality of the cross. Just as the magi gave him myrrh indicating their faith in his victory over suffering and death, so too must we confide in him our own myrrh, that is our sins, trials and tribulations confident that he will turn them into sources of life.

Prayer

Heavenly Father, may these qualities of being enchanted with reality, of seeking the way together as a community and of being grounded in reality, which you have taught us through the magi from the east grow in us that we too may be led towards you and shown to the world through us. Amen.