An Epiphany for Epiphany

A Reflection on the Gospel for Sunday, January 7th 2024:
The Solemnity of the Epiphany of the Lord

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Matthew
​2.1-12 

In the time of King Herod, after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea, wise men from the East came to Jerusalem, asking, “Where is the child who has been born king of the Jews? For we observed his star at its rising, and have come to pay him homage.”

When King Herod heard this, he was frightened, and all Jerusalem with him; and calling together all the chief priests and scribes of the people, he inquired of them where the Messiah was to be born. They told him, “In Bethlehem of Judea; for so it has been written by the Prophet: ‘And you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, are by no means least among the rulers of Judah; for from you shall come a ruler who is to shepherd my people Israel.’”

Then Herod secretly called for the wise men and learned from them the exact time when the star had appeared. Then he sent them to Bethlehem, saying, “Go and search diligently for the child; and when you have found him, bring me word so that I may also go and pay him homage.”

When they had heard the king, they set out; and there, ahead of them, went the star that they had seen at its rising, until it stopped over the place where the child was. When they saw that the star had stopped, they were overwhelmed with joy.

On entering the house, they saw the child with Mary his mother; and they knelt down and paid him homage. Then, opening their treasure chests, they offered him gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh. And having been warned in a dream not to return to Herod, they left for their own country by another road.

Pause. Pray. Reflect.

“... they were overwhelmed with joy.”

And so, Jesus is born. As the Magi approach, they find him in his mother’s arms, weak and dependent. All is humble and mild. 

This was not the expected entrance into the world of the One who would save the world. The prophecies of the Saviour were long awaited, thought about, studied and hoped for. So it might have shocked the Magi, when the prophecies’ fulfillment occurred in such an unexpected way.  But what were they expecting? Would they have known what was to come at the end of their journey? When I imagine the magi in this scene, I watch the “wheels turning” as the expressions move across their faces. I see the last pieces of a puzzle falling into place, revealing the full picture. This is a lightbulb moment. Something is being discovered, realized and understood for what it is. That something is the revelation of God to His people. 

I love that Epiphany called “epiphany,” a word describing a moment of sudden revelation or insight. Here, God is made manifest. He is “in the flesh,” and by His grace He is making sure that the people who witness it know it to be true. It is of utmost importance that the Magi knew the Christ Child was not just any child, but rather Emmanuel, God with us. Blinded by sin and wandering in a broken world, they could have easily passed over His birth as just another birth in the poverty of the time or, worse, outright rejected the reality that lay before them.

Without this realization, the whole miracle and purpose of Christ’s birth would have remained hidden, not in the sense that Jesus would not be God – He always was and will be God, regardless of our knowing or not. But it is our knowing that the impossible has become possible that allows us to begin believing that Jesus truly was sent to save us because we could not save ourselves. 

The Magi realize that they are gazing on the face of God Himself. What joy and wonder! What a realization! What a gift to them!

May He reveal Himself as our God more fully this Epiphany. May we witness glory, sweetness, softness, power and truth as the Magi did when they first laid eyes on Him. May we have a new epiphany in our hearts!

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Michelynne Gomez

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