EPIPHANY: Christ is
the Light of All Nations
(1/10/07 TOPIC OF DISCUSSION)
PRESENTED BY MICHAEL FETSKO
EPIPHANY represents the last day of the Christmas season, which begins at midnight on December 24th.
Sunday’s readings are:
First
Psalm 72:1-2, 7-8,
10-11, 12-13
Second
Gospel – Matthew 2:1-12
We know that Christ is the Savior of the world. His purpose was to reconcile people back to God because we had drifted away. God promised a reconciler. The birth of Jesus is the beginning of this event. What was the event that brought about the need for a Savior? It was the sin of our first parents, Adam and Eve – Original Sin. We all know the story of Creation (Genesis 3: 14-15). Adama (first man) and Eve (mother of the living) were the crowning glory of God’s creation. They were perfect, lived in constant communion with God, and wanted for nothing. They were in Paradise. Something happened that caused this perfect creation to be marred. It was the disobedience of Adam and Eve to God’s command not to eat of the tree of good and evil. This was their first encounter with sin and its corrupting effect. Their fall from grace got them expelled from paradise. Sin thus entered the world. The corrupting influence was Satan, in the form of a serpent. After the couple’s fall from grace God cursed Satan, “Because you have done this, you shall be banned from all the animals and from all the wild creatures.” “On your belly shall you crawl, and dirt shall you eat all the days of your life.” “I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and hers; He will strike at your head while you strike at his heel.” The snake or serpent has ever since been the symbol of evil and therefore of Satan, the devil, the fallen angel. Satan is also depicted as a dragon. There has historically been an aversion by man to reptiles, especially snakes. Into this tragic event for Adam and Eve, God first injects his promise of a Redeemer. The “offspring of the woman” refers to Jesus Christ who will crush the effect of original sin by His death on the Cross and His Resurrection. In contrast to Satan and his influence which breeds evil of every kind, the Redeemer – the only begotten of God, Jesus, will restore the relationship of humankind to its Creator. This promise or prophecy (proto evangelium) of the redeemer to fallen mankind unfolds throughout biblical history.
The coming of Christ into the world at that first Christmas was a local event. Although conceived miraculously in the womb of this young Jewish woman, Mary, Jesus’ birth was natural. In contrast to how we might have envisioned the event, this God-Man was born in humility, in a cave. There was no room for Him and His parents at the Bethlehem Inn and so His first companions were animals. Epiphany (epiphania), however which means “revelation” was much more significant than the visit to the Christ Child by the Magi, Wise Men or Three Kings. This event or Epiphany is the continual unfolding of the Christmas mystery, which highlights the revelation of God’s saving love in Jesus. The Israelites were one of many nations, but special to God. On this feast day we focus in a particular way on the universality of God’s offer of salvation, symbolized by the presence of these gentiles who are alluded to in all three readings. As the preface of the mass today proclaims, Epiphany is the day when the Father’s eternal plan of salvation is revealed – “…the lives of the poor he shall save.” Christ’s glory shines “..the glory of the Lord shines upon you” and humanity is renewed in Christ’s immortal image. We are “..copartners in the promise.” “Radiant at what we see we are eager to join the Magi in offering gold to Christ the King, frankincense to the Son of God, our High Priest, and myrrh to the mortal flesh of Jesus who will one day lie in a tomb. This manifestation leads us home “by another way.”
Mary’s role in God’s salvation plan was unique. After Adam and Eve God established a special relationship with the Israelites. It started with Abraham. We know the story of this great man of the Old Testament and his test of faith when asked by God to sacrifice his only son, Isaac. An angel stopped him. God was pleased with his willingness and obedience. This was a precursor of God’s willingness to sacrifice His only Son for our sakes. The Jewish people, then were God’s chosen, to whom the Messiah was promised. He did indeed arrive through the Jewish people. The feast of the Epiphany extends God’s promise of salvation to the non-Jews or gentiles. Revealing God’s Universal offer of salvation. The Jewish people are the portal through which the Messiah enters the world. He comes first to the Jews then to the rest of the world. The three wise men were probably Wise men Magi or Kings - possibly astrologers, stargazers, curiosity seekers but they were definitely not Jews. Their backgrounds were distinctly different from each other, hailing from different parts of the world east of Palestine. They were not aware of Jewish culture or religion but were curious. The were for the most part pagans. The one thing they had in common, however, was that each one was convinced that based on the activity of the stars, a great event of historical significance had occurred and they were determined to find out what it was. The church has never defined what the “Star” was; it could have been a cosmic phenomenon, an alignment of stars or any combination thereof. There are many speculations in this regard some interestingly related to the Jewish tribe of Judah.
A bit of history; Ancient Rome fell to invaders and the Roman Empire moved to Constantinople, which is modern day Turkey. Because of this shift early on, as the Church developed and then eventually moved back to Rome, there are distinctive differences between the Roman Church and the Orthodox. Some Eastern Churches are still in submission to Roman Papal leadership however Orthodox churches have their own leadership and are not subject to the Pope. The recent visit by our present Pope Benedict VI to Turkey was a significant gesture of reconciliation and friendship towards the Patriarch of Istanbul who is his counterpart in the separated Orthodox Church. Much work in ongoing towards further reconciliation. These churches of the East consider and celebrate Epiphany with much more significance. It is considered more important than Christmas and it makes sense because we are all included in this plan of salvation. Not just the Jews but the gentiles as well. St. Paul was a Pharisee who, after his conversion, understood the universality of salvation.
The first reading, Isaiah 60:1-6 is a majestic passage. Place yourself on the hillside on that holy night. Picture the beautiful sky filled with stars “Silent Night, Holy Night. Picture the simple shepherds tending their flock. The prophecy is fulfilled in Matthew. Isaiah joyfully announces this spectacular event; one that was so eagerly anticipated and extends to the whole world.
Psalm 72 speaks of the King who will bring justice and abundance to the poor and oppressed. He is compassionate and extends His bounty to all. The whole world will be invited. Prophets are chosen instruments of God and bring nothing of themselves to their pronouncements. They are Gods voice to His people and those God wishes to save. The people of God (the Church) are dwelt by Jesus – “Incarnational”. Today, in 2007 we have the benefit of being past the event and therefore have hindsight to help our belief. That was not so with the contemporaries of Jesus or those to whom the he prophets’ message was directed. The role of the prophet was to call people back to God. The reminded the Jewish people of their significant role in salvation history, weak and sinful as they were.
In the Letter of Paul to the Ephesians he reminds his readers that he was given the stewardship of teaching about the mystery of God’s revelation to him; that “The Gentiles are coheirs, members of the same body, and copartners in the promise in Christ Jesus through the gospel.” Ephesus is located in modern day Turkey. It is believed to be the last dwelling place of Our Blessed Mother, Mary and St. John who cared for her, at Jesus’ request from the Cross. If you remember, while on the Road to Damascus, Jesus confronted St. Paul. He was converted and infused by the Holy Spirit. Christianity is a revealed religion, and that’s what makes it unique. Our faith is not like those who look at the signs and wonders of nature, examine the stars and try to figure out who God is. He has revealed Himself to us first through Judaism then through his Son, Jesus Christ. we are the heirs of the Jews. It is therefore our awesome responsibility to spread the Good News (Gospel) and thereby make a difference in the world.
Back to the Magi; they know this is a special child – a King. They worship Jesus out of compulsion because they KNOW WHO HE IS – they have been gifted with a special understanding and the gifts they bear to this King are significant.
In the gospel of Matthew 2:1-2 we are told the story of the 3 Kings who stopped at the palace of the then King Herod. They wanted to enquire about where “The King” was to be born. Herod’s paranoia coupled by his evil nature led to the conception of his diabolic plan. It started out with the intent to kill the Baby Jesus. However the Kings were warned by an angel and were sent home by another way to safeguard the life of the Child Jesus. Herod’s fear that there was another contender for his throne led to the slaughter of all male infants under the age of 2. This was Herod’s way of ensuring Jesus was killed. Herod was a puppet king manipulated by Rome.
The church adopted the feasts of Christmas and Epiphany in the 4th and 5th centuries. You may have noticed Chalk in the back of the church last Sunday. An Eastern European (Polish) custom was to mark the main doorposts with the current year and the names of the Three Kings. This year’s markings would be as follows: 20+C+M+B+07. C=Caspar, M=Melchior and B=Balthasar. We are all encouraged to adopt this custom. The initials CMB also signify a Latin Blessing Christus Mansionem Benedictus which means Christ Bless All.
Submitted
by,
Cecilia
Cordeiro
Documentor