Solemnity of the Epiphany of the Lord Year A
Isaiah 60:1-6
Psalm 72:1-2, 7-8, 10-11, 12-13
Ephesians 3:2-3a, 5-6
Matthew 2:1-12
“Behold” seems to be one of God’s favorite words. Depending on how you tally it, the Bible’s text has upwards of 1,500 occurrences of some version of “See!” or “Look!” or “Here!” like holy exclamation points. He is trying to get our attention.
The world says, “Watch ‘til the end … ” “Celebrity reveals big secret … ” “Behind the scenes look ” “You’ll never believe … ” “Find out here … ” “Exclusive … ” “Don’t miss … ” A brief glance at catchy headlines or clickbait captions can successfully snag our eye with almost irresistible force. Something appeals to us about these ubiquitous phrases.
Gnosticism has always been the arch-heresy, as it were. It’s the idea that some secret knowledge or power has been given to a select few, excluding all others. The ancient world was thick with it. Be aware of its various subversive forms now, too, whether in the next new (clinically unproven) health craze or must-read, quick-fix, self-help guidebook (followed by several sequels).
We have the antithesis of gnostic ideology in the Solemnity of the Epiphany. “Lord, every nation on earth will adore you.” Finally, the plan to use the chosen people as an instrument of announcing God’s salvation to the world is coming to fulfillment. “It was not made known to people in other generations as it has now been revealed,” St. Paul writes.
Foreign lands, represented by the enigmatic “magi from the east,” have been clued in to what’s happening in Judea. They come humbly and faithfully, following divine direction by the heavenly sign of a star. The erratic King Herod and the gossip-mongers of Jerusalem get stirred into a buzzing frenzy. Their intentions are less pure and more self-interested.
We are trained to be open and encourage curiosity in a healthy way, especially among children, but the classical tradition counts curiosity among the vices. A pernicious form exists, easily leading to coffee klatch rumors and much worse.
Are we eager for knowledge, or for insider knowledge? Do we have real concern, or do we just enjoy the news cycle thrill? We should discern our sources carefully in this fallen world. “See, darkness covers the earth, and thick clouds over the peoples.” Social media in particular doesn’t quite have an untarnished reputation for sound doctrine or upstanding moral values.
St. Paul says, “The mystery was made known to me by revelation.” We receive God’s blessings by His initiative, not on our own terms. When we refer to the mysterious, we mean the mystical. Mysteries are not puzzles to be solved as much as graces to be experienced, like the “Sacred Mysteries” referring to the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass. Our spiritual posture when it comes to such profound matters must be receptive, humble and grateful. Gnosticism insidiously masquerades as a proud, special holiness.
We are blessed to have the fullness of the truth, but we don’t keep it to ourselves. Our Catholic faith is supposed to be shared. Christ the King, prophesized in today’s Psalm, has universal jurisdiction: “May he rule from sea to sea, and from the river to the ends of the earth.” No one is exempt from His dominion.
Isaiah describes Jerusalem in glory representing the chosen instrument of this outward proclamation, which becomes the Church’s role. “Nations shall walk by your light, and kings by your shining radiance. Raise your eyes and look about; they all gather and come to you.”
Sadly, we have not always lived up to this high calling. For this and any number of reasons, people often find themselves searching for fulfillment elsewhere, beyond the bounds of faith. While we will have to wait for the definitive perfection of the Church Triumphant in Heaven, we can and do enjoy a glimpse of it now: “Then you shall be radiant at what you see, your heart shall throb and overflow.”
We continue to celebrate during the Christmas season that Our Lord has personally entered history to open the way of salvation to everyone, the Psalmist’s “poor when he cries out, and the afflicted when he has no one to help him. He shall have pity for the lowly.” We thus come to an essential feature of His divine strategy, extending the offer of grace to everyone, without reservation: “The Gentiles are co-heirs, members of the same body, and copartners in the promise in Christ Jesus through the Gospel.”
As opposed to the advertising industry’s cheap deceptions, we should contemplate carefully, reverently and obediently the full message of Revelation in both Scripture and the Church’s Tradition, and freely proclaim it.