BREAKING THE BREAD OF THE WORD (# 6)
Epiphany of the Lord, Year C – January 4, 2004
BIBLE READINGS
Mt 2:1-12 // Is 60:1-6 // Eph 3:2-3a, 5-6
An interesting article in the magazine, Family Circle (cf. December 23, 2003, p. 16) is about the kindness of a boy named Clayton and the tremendous impact he made in the lives of others. Meredith Bodgas narrates the beautiful story of this boy who is like a Christmas “star” manifesting to others the presence and the goodness of God.
While strolling through his hometown of San Antonio, Texas, several years ago with his mother, Vicki Gil, Clayton Lillard, then only in fifth grade, saw a girl throw away two bicycles. “My mom and I thought it would be a good idea to refurbish those bikes and give them to a needy family as Christmas gifts,” says Clay, now 14. But one family quickly turned into several hundred. For the past four years Clayton’s Backyard Crew has repaired and cleaned used bicycles or given away new ones for about 500 children. “A bike is something that almost every kid wants,” says Clay. He gives them to children- whom he finds through a program called the Angel Tree Ministry – who have a parent in the prison … Although the Angel Tree Ministry arranges most of the deliveries, Vicki helps Clay and some friends drop off bikes to one or two families. “The first family we delivered to was a lady with seven or eight kids,” remembers Clay. “They all got on their bikes right away and started riding around. And the mom was just thrilled. She was crying. It was awesome.”
The Gospel reading of today’s feast of the Epiphany of the Lord features the presence of the star that leads to Christ. Magi from the East saw the star as it rose. The “star at its rising” in Matthew’s story has a messianic implication. According to Adrian Leske: “A birth was often likened to the rising of a star. The mention of the rising star would have reminded Matthew’s Jewish hearers of the promises to Abraham, often recalled, that his descendants would be as the stars of heaven (Gen 15:5; 22:17; Ex 32:13; I Chr 27:23; Neh 9:23). One of these descendants in particular was already understood messianically (Num 24:17: “A star shall come out of Jacob.”), a reference Matthew must have had in mind. Indeed, the rising star was, for the magi and Christian believers, a sign of the birth of the Messiah.
The magi from the East explained the motive for their spiritual pilgrimage when they arrived in Jerusalem: “Where is the newborn king of the Jews? We saw his star rising and have come to do him homage” (Mt 2:2). When the guiding star finally led them to their absolute goal and they saw the child with his mother Mary, they did what was right and dutiful: “They prostrated themselves and did him homage.” (Mt 2:11) Reflecting on this wonderful event, the Augustinian friar, Thomas of Villanova (1486-1555) exhorts us: “Epiphany proves how keen sighted was the magi’s faith. They had not yet seen the child perform any miracles or mighty works; they had not beheld him walking on the seas or raising the dead or giving sight to the blind; they had not experienced his wisdom or heard his teaching; and yet amid circumstances of extreme privation and lowliness they recognized the majesty of God and worshiped him … Let us go too, my brothers and sisters, and seek the newborn Savior in the company of these wise men … Let us seek him not by the rays of a star but by the light of faith. This will be our most reliable guide along the way; this will lead us by a direct path to our Lord and Savior, and reveal our king to us in the beauty of his majesty.”
The happy event of the Lord’s manifestation, however, has a regrettable counter side. According to Matthew’s account, the cruel tyrant Herod, exhibiting classical political duplicity, claimed that he too wanted to give homage to the newborn king of the Jews once he is found. Herod’s real intent, however, was to kill the infant King and remove this serious and ultimate threat to his power. Aelred Rosser comments: “Clearly, this child brings into the world a new dimension of the inevitable struggle between good and evil. When light shines out in darkness, the darkness does not always flee willingly. When faced with news that seemed too good to be true, some resist it. That resistance, too, is part of God’s plan, since only the death of this Messiah will bring that plan to its mysterious fulfillment.”
Indeed, the child adored by the magi as the newborn “king of the Jews” and presented with gifts of “gold, frankincense and myrrh” signifying his kingship, divinity and redemptive suffering, would be proclaimed the “king of the Jews” on the Cross as he brings to fulfillment the prophecy about the ruler who is to shepherd his people, Israel. According to Matthew’s passion narrative of Jesus, “above his head was placed the charge against him; it read: ‘This is Jesus, the King of the Jews’” (Mt 27:37). The libel charge “king of the Jews” was the title that the magi used in asking for him when they were following the star. The newborn child adored by the magi became the ultimate King by his sacrificial death on the cross, thus fulfilling God’s saving plan for all.
The feast of Epiphany is a call for us to gaze upon the messianic star, Jesus Christ, and to avow the dominion of God who wills to save us all. Today we are called to be obedient to the call of the star beckoning us to humble service and mission in the Church and the world. The adoring magi, symbol of the universal call to salvation, inspire us to manifest God’s loving dominion and mercy for all. Harold Buetow remarks: “On our journey through life, we are to search for a goal that gives meaning to life. Our goal has to have meaning, purpose, and commitment – all of which are inseparable. One source of meaning, purpose and commitment in our lives is to be instruments of Jesus’ epiphany (showing) in the world – like the magi, though not necessarily in such dramatic fashion.”
Do we lovingly and obediently gaze upon Jesus Christ, the true ‘star” sent to us by God the Father to lead us back to him?
Do we give homage to the “King of the Jews” and the King of all creation? What gifts do we wish to offer him?
Are we willing to be instruments of God’s epiphany in today’s world?
III. PRAYING WITH THE WORD
Leader: Let us pray that we will be guided by the light of faith.
(Silent prayer)
Father,
you revealed your Son to the nations
by the guidance of a star.
Lead us to your glory in heaven
by the light of faith.
We ask this through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,
who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,
one God for ever and ever.
Assembly: Amen.
The following is the bread of the living Word that will nourish us throughout the week. Please memorize it.
“We saw his star at its rising and have come to do him homage.” (Mt 2:2)
ACTION PLAN: Look at the stars in the sky and vividly imagine the experience of the magi as they see the star of the newborn king rising from on high leading them to the child. Look at the crib and imagine the experience of the magi as they behold the child with Mary, his mother.
ACTION PLAN: Today, by your act of love and self-giving to a needy person, be a “star” manifesting God’s goodness to us all.
Prepared by: Sr. Mary Margaret Tapang, PDDM