Dear Brothers and Sisters,
Epiphany means manifestation, Jesus shows himself, reveals himself to everyone, thanks to that star that is guiding these wise men to Bethlehem. They analyzed the stars which in those days always served as a guide at sea. There was no radar or anything else to guide them, so they used the North star and who knows what else to guide them on their journey.
The gospel comes to tell us something beautiful: the Lord wants to guide us with a star to the door of Bethlehem, to the manger and the house where the baby Jesus is. The Magi said, we have seen his star and have come to do him homage. God wants you to get close to the child so that we can worship him, because the child is God. The Magi tells Herod that they came to worship a king but Herod is dying of envy and pride and tells them a lie that he also wants to worship this king so tell him where he can find him. Here we see two ways of worshiping the king. One wants to kill the child and he does not succeed but he kills all the young boys under two years of age in Bethlehem. The Magi from the East want to worship him by prostrating themselves.
I was at the Cathedral in Cologne, Germany on a World Youth Day in 2005 where the remains of the kings have been a famous site of pilgrimages for many centuries. We say that there were three kings, but the gospel does not give us a number, only that there were three gifts: gold, frankincense, and myrrh. One of them, Balthasar, was black and there were also Melchior and Gaspar. Balthasar was from Africa and the other two were from Europe and Asia, which were the three continents known at that time. Many young men asked for a grace when they prayed in front of the enormous reliquary of these saints. These Magi were holy men and were the first gentiles who came to worship the baby Jesus. We can ask them to intercede for us; it is not only the children ask for things from them. We adults can also ask the Lord through these saints, these Magi, to give us what we need the most.
Many young people asked that they be able to do the will of God and many men decided to enter the seminary that year in Germany and became priests after a number of years. That trip helped me a lot even though I was already a priest at that time. What is the star that guides us today? I would agree with St. Paul who says that God wants to save us by the foolishness of the preaching. The message is not wise nor eloquent; it is very simple: a dead man rose, he loves you profoundly, he’s God and he gave his life for you. He is alive and in heaven and has the power to help you. This is the Good news.
The preaching that you hear helps to beget in you the child Jesus. It is rather silly in a way because the one who preaches is not very learned or wise like the apostles who were mere fishermen. Probably most of them did not know how to read or write and yet they preached this good news and changed the world. They preached a wonderful message that they heard and received and realized that God loved them. He did not judge them but showed them mercy and they gave their lives eventually for him. He is risen; this is the Good News. The star that you have already seen stopped for you like it did for the Magi who came to worship him.
You have heard a lot of preaching here and this Word of God has given you so many things, so many blessings and invites you to set out on a journey that is conversion. The star disappeared for a time for the kings and also in our life; this preaching disappears, and the devil prevents us from seeing the love of God in our life. He always wants to cover up the star. The star that says get going, get on the road that will take you to the child Jesus. Preaching is not to speak of myself; it is to bring you to the Lord and the preaching also led me to the Lord, not to another person or thing, but to Jesus Christ, to a place where you can find him.
They announced what they had heard, what they had seen and what they had experienced. They did not preach themselves. Probably more than what they said was how they lived. Their lives and words were the manifestation of God to the world. If you receive this word today Christ has the power to change your life. He can give you the gift of conversion and make you a happy man. You can die in peace today. This is the only mission that has me here today. In my weaknesses I can be a star for you so that you find Jesus Christ within you and worship him. Then you can bring the others, your children, your spouse, your co-workers, this preaching which is not about words but how you live your life, and this is what puts Christ in front of others.
The kings were warned in a dream not to return to Herod who wanted to kill the newborn king. The gospel says that they went home a different way. It could also mean that they went home totally different from the way they came. They were changed men. This is conversion which can also happen to us. Before we hated, had resentments, couldn’t love and now we can love, forgive, be chaste, accept the one with many weaknesses, etc. I can be a different person and you can also when we have this encounter with Christ. You can even love the one who despises you. We all need to convert and see that often we are going in the wrong direction. I need to change as much as you. By following his star, you are able to see Christ in the other, in your spouse, your kids, your brother who took the inheritance. If you don’t need to change, I am not sure why you are here.
Where is Christ present today so I can worship him? He is right next to you. Christ is in your home, in your spouse who has a bad temperament. There is where you will find him. Christ is at your side so that you can remain faithful to your spouse and not treat her badly. Christ is in your children, in your boss, in your neighbor who is suing you, in your brother who took the inheritance, in your mother-in-law who hates you. Christ is there!
Imagine if the kings came all that way and didn’t enter the mess that they saw in the manger. Perhaps they thought he would be in a palace. But they recognized the humility of God, the power of God in weakness. We also need to enter the difficulties of life either in marriage or as a priest or a single person. Ask the kings for the ability to recognize Christ in the poor, in the homeless one who smells bad, in the one who insults you and despises you. Christ is there. Let us ask the Lord to help us to worship him in others because this is our mission. Let us be guided by this star and not be afraid to go out and follow him.