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Read the story of the Solemnity of the Epiphany

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Summary

Epiphany in Greek means "manifestation". In the West the visit of the Magi is remembered: through this event the Lord "manifests himself" to the pagans, therefore to the world. In the Eastern Churches, in this solemnity the emphasis is on the Trinitarian "manifestation" during the Baptism of Jesus in the Jordan.

If at the center of Christmas day there is the birth of the Child, in the Epiphany it is highlighted that this poor and weak Child is the King Messiah, the Lord of the world. With the Epiphany, Isaiah's prophecy is fulfilled, which the liturgy has chosen as the first reading: "Arise and clothe yourself with light, for your light is coming” (Is 60,1ff), as if to say: don't close yourself off, don't be discouraged, don't remain a prisoner of your "convictions", don't be demoralized, react, "look up”! Like the Magi, observe "the stars" and you will find "the star Jesus".

Born Jesus in Bethlehem of Judea, in the time of King Herod, behold, some Magi came from the east to Jerusalem and said: “Where is he who has been born, the king of the Jews? We saw his star rise and we came to worship him." When King Herod heard this, he was troubled, and with him all Jerusalem... Having heard the king, they departed. And behold, the star that they had seen rising preceded them, until it came and stopped above the place where the child was.

When they saw the star they felt great joy. Having entered the house, they saw the child with Mary his mother, they prostrated themselves and adored him. Then they opened their treasure chests and offered him gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh. Having been warned in a dream not to return to Herod, they returned to their country by another route (Mt 2.1-12).

Re Magi in viaggio — Solennità dell'Epifania 3

The Magi

The Magi"they raise their heads” and they set off, they go where it was logical to “look” for a king, in the palace. Their arrival creates havoc, so much so that Herod summons priests and Pharisees, the experts in the Scriptures. They "know" that the Messiah must be born in "Bethlehem", but their "knowledge" goes no further. There is no life, no experience. They remain still. No yes”they raise”, remain safe and comfortable in the palace.

The Magi arrive from afar and set out on their journey: priests and Pharisees are already close, yet they are blocked by the blindness of their knowledge, by their certainties, by their positions of privilege... It seems that God reveals himself there where he does not shine with his own light and not where one seeks the limelight of notoriety.

The crisis

The Magi moved following the star, but at a certain point they no longer saw it, so strong in the certainty that the king was in the palace: a certainty that momentarily dazzled their search, to the point of making them lose their way.

But then, having agreed to question themselves, to "convert", the star reappeared, guiding them to their goal. This passage is beautiful and important, because it makes us understand that man's drama is never that of falling, of making mistakes, but that of giving up in the face of falls. Like the Magi, seekers of truth, we sometimes or often risk allowing ourselves to be dazzled by our beliefs, to the point of losing our way.

Today we are taught not to be afraid to question our certainties and conclusions, because a true "seeker" knows how to accept making mistakes and get back on the path. The heart has great desires, it is hungry for justice and truth, for joy and hope. Following the star is following your own high, noble, just, beautiful desires, those that enter your heart and are capable of moving your life, of setting you on a journey knowing how to face hardships, risks, defeats, just like what happened to the wise men.

The meeting with the Child, the King

When the search is animated by the truth, then you find what you are looking for and you know how to grasp it even from a "Baby wrapped in swaddling clothes lying in a manger” (Lk 2,12, Christmas Eve Mass). This passage is interesting. In fact, it's not enough."search for”, if you do not have a pure heart, you are not free from partisan interests, if you are not animated by feelings of truth.

Herod wanted to adore the child, but we know that this desire was flawed (see Mt 2.16 "Herod realized that the Magi had made fun of him...he sent to kill the children; Luke 9.9: "he tried to see him..." , was curious about his miracles). Taken by fear and ambiguity, so prisoner of his power, Herod is unable to see in that Child what he really is, and lets himself be overcome by the fear of having a dangerous competitor.

Epiphany manifests Jesus and hearts

The Epiphany not only manifests Jesus, the Son of God, but reveals hearts, demonstrating that the Savior can be welcomed (as happened with the shepherds and the Magi) and also rejected (Herod).

Let's not hide it, just as there are "magi" so there is a Herod in each of us. There is a part of us that is always ready to set off, on a journey, to know and understand, to grow and improve, to surpass ourselves, but there is also a Herod who is always ready to destroy dreams and hopes. A Herod always ready to "massacre" our every desire for good, for beauty, for right, who does not accept that we find "the Child" capable of changing our lives.

Magi who teach us that life is a journey that asks to be lived like Jesus, and a Herod who deceives us and flatters us that only success and power are worth being able to exist.

The gifts

Gold and incense recall the gifts of the Queen of Sheba to Solomon, a reference that we also found in the psalm.

With gold the royalty of Jesus is recognized; with his incense his divinity, with myrrh his humanity, taking into account that it is a substance with which the bodies of the deceased were sprinkled. The light of the star always leads to an act of adoration, to bending down before the mystery that has become close.

It leads to giving but even more to giving of oneself. It is precisely the "giving of oneself" that stops many from being attracted by Jesus, that leads many to fear losing positions, comforts, security, privileges and that stops them from changing their lives and converting.