Matthew 2:2 "Where is the newborn king of the Jews? We saw his star at its rising and have come to do him homage."
You probably know the phrase, or have at least heard it, "I've had an epiphany!" Epiphany is a sudden enlightenment or revelation of some one or some thing. After an epiphany you have the full picture of an event or solution and how it came about. It's bigger than just getting the answer for something, but the realization of how you got it from all different angles. This weekend, the Church celebrates the Epiphany of our Lord. The reading from Matthew's gospel finds magi from the east visiting King Herod and asking about the newborn king of the Jews. Tradition holds that the magi had known of the prophets foretelling of a Messiah which would be ushered in by great signs. They saw the brilliant star and took this as a sign of what had been promised. When they found the child, they knew immediately that Jesus was the chosen one and fell prostrate in homage. This was an epiphany for the wise men or astronomers. What they had sought had come to fruition. They had heard the stories, had seen the signs, and now had put the final piece of the puzzle to complete the journey. Over the centuries, leaders and prophets had called for a Messiah but the conclusion for them never came. Abraham, Moses, Elijah, Jeremiah, all were hoping and now, to three gentiles, God was revealed to them in the form of an infant. The magi, with hearts wide open, immediately knew. Do we as Christians have that same enthusiasm and exuberance when we encounter Christ at the Eucharistic table? The magi gave gold, frankincense and myrrh to honor the newborn king. The greatest gift that you can give to Jesus today is your heart and soul. Have the courage this Epiphany to do that.
