The Epiphany of the Lord
Mt 2:1-12
January 7, 2024

Matthew draws the outline, but centuries of prayer, meditation, reflection, and tradition have filled in the blank spaces with a colorful and dramatic image of the role three foreign visitors played in welcoming The Christ-child into this world.

Pope Francis moves us back to basics. The Holy Father is quoted as having said:

It is not enough to know where Jesus was born, as the scribes did, if we do not go there. It is not enough to know that Jesus was born, like Herod, if we do not encounter him. When his place becomes our place, when his time becomes our time, when his person becomes our life, then the prophecies come to fulfillment in us. Then Jesus is born within us. He becomes the living God for me. Today, we are asked to imitate the Magi. They do not debate; they set out. They do not stop to look but enter the house of Jesus. They do not put themselves at the center but bow down before the One who is the center.

This year, we Catholic Christians are encouraged to focus our attentions on Eucharistic Renewal. A “no frills” approach to the Solemnity of the Epiphany, one of the most ancient Feasts of the Church, is a good place to begin this contemporary search for a renewed appreciation for the Sacrament, which is the Source and Summit of our faith.

At the heart of the Eucharist is “the exchange of gifts.” We present back to the Creator fruits of the Earth, which human hands have formed into bread and wine. God then accepts and blesses The Gifts and returns them to us as the Body and Blood of Jesus Christ.

Then, like the Maji, we return to our homes changed by the encounter with Christ. The rhythm of Eucharist concludes when we are sent forth to share what we have been given.

So, as we search for a deeper understanding of and renewed commitment to The Eucharist, IT IS NOT ENOUGH TO KNOW WHAT GIFTS THE THREE VISITORS OFFERED TO THE CHILD. We must also know the meaning of them. Gold, of course, is a tribute befitting a king. Frankincense is used to worship our God. And myrrh signals an impending death.

Still…IT IS NOT ENOUGH TO KNOW WHY THOSE GIFTS WERE BROUGHT TO THE MANGER WITHOUT KNOWING WHAT HAPPENED TO THEM.

My prayer and reflection suggests to me that The Holy Family graciously accepted the gold, took it, blessed it, and then returned it to the Magi to inspire charity.

Likewise, the frankincense was received and then returned with the reminder that, through the indwelling of the Holy Spirit, all humankind shares in the Divine life and should be reverenced.

As for the myrrh, it would have been acknowledged with great appreciation, and handed back with the assurance that by accepting His death on the Cross, those who believe that Jesus Christ is the resurrection and the life will live forever.

Is it possible that the exchange of gifts between these seekers of truth and the Holy Family was an outline for the Eucharist?

If so, we are left with the responsibility of filling in the blank spaces with our very lives. When we leave this intimate and life-giving encounter with The Christ that the Eucharist offers us, we should return to our homes “a different way”… with charitable hearts, an appreciation for the indwelling of the Divine in every human being…and with a “revived” confidence in the promise of Resurrection.

It is not enough to know where Jesus was born. Through the Eucharist, we are able to go there…and adore Him.

It is not enough to know that Jesus was born. Through the Eucharist, we are able to encounter Him… His place becomes our place, His time becomes our time, His person becomes our life.

IT IS NOT ENOUGH TO KNOW WHAT EUCHARIST MEANS…IF WE DO NOT LIVE IT. Although we may not have a star to guide us… we do have the example of the Magi to follow.