Matthew 2:1-4, 8, 11-12: In the time of King Herod, after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea, wise men from the East came to Jerusalem, asking, “Where is the child who has been born king of the Jews? For we observed his star at its rising, and have come to pay him homage.” When King Herod heard this, he was frightened, and all Jerusalem with him… Then he sent them to Bethlehem, saying, “Go and search diligently for the child; and when you have found him, bring me word so that I may also go and pay him homage.” On entering the house, they saw the child with Mary his mother; and they knelt down and paid him homage. Then, opening their treasure chests, they offered him gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh. And having been warned in a dream not to return to Herod, they left for their own country by another road.
The season of Epiphany begins on January 6 with the arrival of the wise men. They have studied the prophecies and followed the bright star a great distance to find this new king. They come with fine gifts. But they don’t find the new king in Jerusalem, in the place of power and wealth. They find him in the dusty little town of Bethlehem or possibly in working-class Nazareth. He is a king of humble beginnings, but destined for great things.
When the wise men come, they bestow a worldly power on baby Jesus. They bring gifts of wealth, royalty and sacrifice. They validate that this is the king foretold by the prophets, that God is truly with us in human form.
An epiphany is an illuminating moment, when something new is revealed. It’s when the light comes on and suddenly we see something in a new light. The wise men are the first to see something majestic in Jesus, but we also encounter Jesus at his baptism, his first miracle at the wedding of Cana, and in the transfiguation. In this season, we are getting to know this Son of God and celebrating in God’s revelation in our midst.
But God is always revealing more to us every day, if we are open to the epiphanies in our midst. When we find something new in the ordinary, God is there. When we learn and grow through challenges, God is there. God is shining a light in all the dark places and waiting for us to find new revelations. If only we will follow the light, as the wise men did, looking for something spectacular.
