on the notion more of “kings.” Some traditions hold that St. Thomas the Apostle visited them later on in life, catechized and initiated them fully into the Christian faith, and that they were later ordained priests and bishops. So why do we still hail these three characters, immortalized in song and art, two thousand years later?
The word “epiphany” means “to reveal.” This is where Jesus’s identity would be revealed to the greater world, beyond Mary and Joseph, some shepherds, and the animals. When the Gentile (non-Jewish) astrologers roll in from the East, it’s a signal that this blessed birth to a poor Jewish couple was going to affect far more people than just their immediate family; this holy baby’s life would have effects on an international stage. The birth of Jesus had universal (or, in Greek, “catholic”) implications. It is a bold and beautiful announcement that God’s kingdom had, indeed, come, and when God’s kingdom comes, our “kingdoms” must go. Regardless of what happened later, we must not forget the simplest lessons the Magi taught us: they showed up, worshiped Jesus, and brought their gifts. Ask yourself if you do all three. If not, “Why not?” And if so, keep it up.
It’s easy, though, for the Epiphany to function as and remain a mere story to the twenty-first-century believer. So, what does this really mean for us today? Why are these characters — these “three kings” (even though Scripture lists only three gifts, not three people) — still being celebrated and sung about and made into tiny Nativity-set action figures? How does their action impact the modern believer?
There are several things we can learn from the Magi, actually. Consider, just a few:
• Sometimes God calls us to search for Him with our bodies and, indeed, with our whole heart. It may take time to “find” the Lord, but it is in the seeking that we come to yearn for Him even more. In seeking God, we actually come to realize that He is the One seeking us and calling out to us in signs and wonders right in front of us.
• True adoration and worship culminate and find their place at the manger. In modern settings, the manger is your parish altar/chapel, tabernacle, and/or monstrance. Bethlehem is not half a world away; it is as near as your home parish.
• Just as God offers us His physical presence (in Christ Jesus), we are invited to offer ourselves back to Him, along with our gifts, talents, etc. A gift is not a gift until it is freely given … until then it is a possession.
• We are all invited to encounter God and to receive His grace … no credentials except sin are necessary; current saints need not apply.
• The journey to Bethlehem took the Magi time and great effort. Their example should encourage you to ask yourself, “How far am I willing to go for Christ?” What more does God have to do to prove His love beyond the Cross, His mercy beyond absolution, and His intimacy beyond the sacraments?
• Are you willing to lay down your gifts and your very lives in worship of God? That question sounds simple enough, but the simplest questions are often the most dangerous and the most difficult to answer.
Remember that the motivation and effort of your gift-giving is often far more meaningful than the gift itself. The Magi’s trust — their travel, effort, and worship — far outshone the gifts that they bore. Still, today, far more meaningful than your mere physical presence in the church is the motivation behind it and the worship you unleash when in the Lord’s presence.
The not-so-happy ending
In the midst of these — and many more lessons we can learn from the Epiphany — we can’t forget the drama going on behind the scenes.
The Magi had encountered King Herod, who wanted to know the whereabouts of the newborn Christ. Threatened by ancient prophecies coming true, the bloodthirsty king wanted the baby dead. God had raised a star in the heavens, magi had traveled, Mary and Joseph had too, the inn was full, the angels had proclaimed, the shepherds visited, and just when things were supposed to calm down, it got even more dangerous. It took angelic intervention — fleeing the town under the veil of night, escaping the grip of a homicidal king, and returning to foreign lands — for the Holy Family and the blessed Magi to be safe and process all they had experienced.
This is no Disney movie. This is not the “happy ending” to the birth story, either. This is reality. This happened. This was another miraculous event in the historic battle between good and evil, where the light, once again, overcomes the darkness. These were real souls that journeyed, worshiped, adored, and eventually returned home, changed forever.
During the Epiphany, the epic saga of salvation history takes a dramatic and unexpected turn, announcing God’s presence to a world desperately in need of it. Nothing much has changed. You are magi now, traveling to your local Bethlehem (parish), advancing toward a different-looking manger (the altar), and laying down your gifts and your life before the King each week. You make the trip physically, yes, but it’s how far you are willing to go spiritually that makes a difference. Will you kneel? Will you worship? Will you allow the Lord to change you forever?
The answers to those questions will determine whether or not the faithful will be celebrating your life two thousand years from now when you are a saint. If your immediate response to that last sentence was “Me? A saint? Not a chance!” then may I submit your God is too small. No sin is greater than His mercy. No sin. God took flesh to save us from our sins. He gave us His Holy Spirit to help us become saints. The Holy Spirit’s job is — quite literally — to make us holy.
The Christmas mystery — the mystery of the Incarnation — invites us to active prayer. God emptying himself and taking on flesh is beautiful, not only because of the humility and gentleness of the baby in the manger, but because of His invitation to interact with Him physically and intimately. The entire Nativity scene is a celebration of God’s love for His children, His willingness to stop at nothing to ensure our salvation. It is a scene that we must prayerfully engage in, not just passively “admire.” Never forget that the Lord didn’t come to be admired, but to be worshiped. Fall on your knees this night, as they did so many centuries ago, and worship the God who loved you enough to be born into the world’s filth and sin, to save you from it.
A Step Beyond
So how can we live out the reality of the Magi’s journey in our own lives? How do we answer the call with similar abandon?
Ask God to reveal to you which people or things, fears or stresses inadvertently become your “god.” You may want to compile a list of the things that occupy a majority of your thoughts instead of God. What are the stresses that render you distant when you’re called to be present to family or friends? What are the anxieties that steal your focus and energy when you go to pray?
If you aren’t sure “who your God is,” you might want to begin with your social media profile. Who and what do you post about the most? Who occupies a majority of your thoughts and energy? If Christ was right (and He always is) when He said, “For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also” (Mt 6:21), then we can learn a lot from where we spend our time and energy.
No sin is greater than His mercy.
We cannot worship the true God until we acknowledge any false gods that have crept in and set up shop in our souls.
This self-assessment is challenging and humbling. It’s thirsty work … let’s grab a drink.
Chapter 2
Encountering
