If December 25th is a Christian family feast and a time for home gathering, the feast of Epiphany is the official , universal solemnity for the Catholic Church; the Son of God becoming manifest to the world. Thus Epiphany simply means manifestation or appearance. Many episodes characterize this feast namely the adoration of Jesus by the Magi, the Baptism of Jesus, the miracle at the Cana wedding, the Presentation of the Lord in the Temple, the visit by the shepherds, and the like.
In the first reading, the Prophet Isaiah invites you to arise because your light has come. Christ’s manifestation is supposed to shatter the darkness in your life and bring you face to face with your destiny which is found in Jesus alone. He is our peace and our reconciliation. Now, then, dearly beloved, Christ has been revealed to both Jews and Gentiles. In the Gospel reading Jesus was manifested in the very cradle of his infancy to those who were near and to those who were afar- to the Jews whose shepherds were nearby; to Gentiles whose Magi were at a great distance. The former came to Him on the very day of His birth; the latter are believed to have come on this day. He was not revealed to shepherds because they were learned, nor to the Magi because they were righteous. He, the cornerstone, joined both groups to Himself since He came to choose the foolish things of the world in order to put to shame the wise and to call sinners, not the just, so that the mighty would not be lifted up nor the lowly be in despair. Like the Magi, daily we visit the Lord in the Mass. We open our treasures and offer Him Gold, Incense and Myrrh. In the Holy Communion, we receive Him and He receives us. If we are wise, we also will return by another way and abandon the reckless, earthbound way which we have been following. We have seen the Lord; we should now live for Him and for Him alone, in spite of all difficulties.
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