With Opened Bible
Feast of Epiphany
“They prostrated themselves and did him homage. Then they opened their treasures and offered him gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh.” (Matthew 2)
The Christmas season allows us to contemplate our Lord's two significant manifestations. The first is the manifestation to the poor, who are the shepherds of Bethlehem, on the very day of the Savior's birth. (Luke 2:8-11) and the second is that of the Nations. In the Bible, the word nation with an (s) means the pagans who have not yet had the chance to encounter God. These nations are represented by the Magi, astrologers who came from the ancient East to worship the world's True King. Saint Mathew has specified their identity: Magi. (Mathew 2:1) They were not kings. But the Church has always presented them in a royal way to respond to the prophecy of King David, who sang: "May the kings of Tarshish and the islands bring tribute, and the kings of Sheba and Seba offer gifts. May all kings bow before him, all nations serve him. (Psalm 72:10-11)
In fact, this psalm referred to the royalty of Solomon, a great king recognized by all the known nations of the time. By extension, it is applied to Christ, the spiritual Heir of David, the King of the universe.
The Magi, these astrologers who studied the stars, noted a star brighter than the others. It was a way of saying that a new king was born. "We have seen his star" (Mathew 2:2). But this star is the very image of this King that Balaam the seer had prophesied long ago: "I see him, though not now; I observe him, though not near: A star shall advance from Jacob, and a scepter shall rise from Israel." (Numbers 24:17)
Being the True King, Jesus had to be worshiped and contemplated. For that reason, the Magi came to meet him. They said it clearly to King Herod: "Where is the newborn King of the Jews? We saw his star at its rising and have come to do him homage." (Matthew 2:2)
Now, the question is: How many were there? Many think that there were three. The Bible says nothing about it. However, their gifs, three (gold, frankincense, and myrrh), open the way to this interpretation. The reality of the time tells us otherwise. Three important men wandering alone in the desert for weeks? Impossible! It was a caravan that came to Jesus.
The Church reduced them to three for a theological reason. The number reminds us of the three sons of Noah, the ancestors of the nations (the yellow, the Caucasians, and the blacks) (Genesis 5:32). By reducing them to three, the Church makes us discover the universality of the salvation offered in Jesus Christ. All nations are invited to meet Christ, the light of the world.
Indeed, the ministry of the Church is universal according to the very words of the Savior: "Go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you." (Mathew 28:19-20)
The feast of the Epiphany (manifestation to the world) is the celebration of cultures and peoples who are different from the Jews. It is the feast of the catholicity (universal) of the Christian faith) Jesus was born and died out of love for all. (John 3:16)
