The Feast of Epiphany :B: January 7, 2023

 THE THREE WISE MEN FROM THE EAST VISIT CHILD JESUS

First Reading: Isaiah 60: 1-6

Second Reading: Ephesians 3: 2-3 and 5-6

Gospel Reading: Matthew 2: 1-12

   *First reading is from the book of Prophet Isaiah. A reference to the joyful return of the Jewish people from exile to the holy city of Jerusalem is mentioned in the first part of the passage. They find their beloved Jerusalem in total ruins. Isaiah encourages them and cheers them up with a vision of the future restored city. In the second part, the final pilgrimage of the people of God to the heavenly Jerusalem is mentioned. This prophecy of Isaiah has some echoes in today's feast of Epiphany.

   *Second reading is from the letter of St. Paul to Ephesians. Paul explains to the Christian community at Ephesus that God invites the Jews and Gentiles (all people) to share on an equal footing the salvation brought by Christ. The feast of Epiphany reminds us of God's invitation to all people to be part of the salvific event without any distinction of social standing or place of origin. The Church is complete only when everyone - Jews and Gentiles- live in harmony as members of the body of Christ. 

The Epiphany: The manifestation of the Lord to the whole world                                 Today's Gospel reading is from St. Matthew. An account of how the three wise men from the east came to Bethlehem to pay homage to infant Jesus is given. They pay homage and offer their precious gifts to the divine child. Jewish leaders ignore or reject the infant in the manger and some even plot to kill Him. But the three wise men left their home-lands and comfort zones in search of the divine child. The story of the wise men is the story of all genuine seekers of faith. They leave everything precious to them and are guided by a star. They diligently search for the child Jesus. When they find Him, they worship Him. Hence the Gospel story gives us three important messages: 1. It speaks of the journey of the three wise men from the east to Bethlehem. Their journey is a symbol of the search for truth by genuine seekers of God. 2. The meeting between the wise men and King Herod reminds us that people in authority and power try to suppress and even try to destroy God's messengers for their own selfish reasons. 3. The wise men paying homage to child Jesus is a touching story of all moments of grace and they totally surrender themselves to the Almighty.