Here is the text of the homily I prepared for the celebration of the Epiphany. As we commemorate the arrival of the Magi from the East who came in search of the infant Jesus, their example motivates us as well to seek out Jesus and to allow him to invigorate our faith with the freshness of his presence.
One of my childhood memories of Christmas was the manger scene that would be set up in every house that we would visit. Among the most elaborate was the one that was set up in my grandparents’ home. To the eyes a child, that scene was an absolute wonder. It covered half of a ping-pong table and included what seemed to be an entire village of buildings in addition to the stable. There was a magical quality to the figurines. Each time we visited during the weeks leading up to Christmas, there were more and more parts of the village set out upon the table, and the little people seemed to move from one part of the scene to another, including the wise men who would begin their journey on the very edges of the scene and slowly make their way toward the crib until the Epiphany, when they would finally arrive.
While Saint Luke’s gospel recounts Jesus’ infancy narrative, it is Saint Matthew who tells us the details of the visitors who came from the east. They searched for the child who had been born king of the Jews, for they had observed his star at its rising (Mt 2:1-2) and wanted to pay him homage.
Saint Matthew wrote his gospel in order to help Christians who had been converted from Judaism to preserve the details of the life and ministry of Jesus. It is significant that Matthew is the only one of the gospel writers to tell the story of the visit of the Magi. Perhaps he wanted to demonstrate the fact that Jesus was born and lived among us, not only so that Jews could learn about him, but in order that all people would be able to hear the good news that God came to his people. The light of faith was always intended to be spread throughout the world – even to its farthest ends, and therefore we must understand the visit of the Magi as the fulfillment of Isaiah’s prophecy: Arise, shine he says, for your light has come and the glory of the Lord has risen upon you! (Is 60:1).
Guided by the light of a star, the wise men set out in search of the child. When they saw that the star had stopped, they were overwhelmed with joy (Mt 2:9-10). The same gift of joy that was shared with the shepherds when the angels told them about the birth of the child was also shared with these visitors from afar, and this same gift of joy is also shared with each one of us if we – like the Magi – are willing to set out in search of Jesus.
How their hearts must have burned with joy as they knelt before the infant king to present their treasures. That overwhelming joy was also present in the heart of Saint Paul after he had encountered Jesus, so much so that he set out and travelled extensively in order to share the good news with many who were not of Jewish origin. Because of his zeal Gentiles have also become fellow heirs, members of the same body, and sharers in the promise in Christ Jesus (Eph 3:6).
Today, all of us are once again little children gathered around the manger scene. There is a part of us that will always marvel at the way that the little figurines seem to move, and there should always be a part of us that stands in awe when we realize that we are all sharers in the promise of eternal life because Jesus came to live among us.
Find your star
One of my childhood memories of Christmas was the manger scene that would be set up in every house that we would visit. Among the most elaborate was the one that was set up in my grandparents’ home. To the eyes a child, that scene was an absolute wonder. It covered half of a ping-pong table and included what seemed to be an entire village of buildings in addition to the stable. There was a magical quality to the figurines. Each time we visited during the weeks leading up to Christmas, there were more and more parts of the village set out upon the table, and the little people seemed to move from one part of the scene to another, including the wise men who would begin their journey on the very edges of the scene and slowly make their way toward the crib until the Epiphany, when they would finally arrive.
While Saint Luke’s gospel recounts Jesus’ infancy narrative, it is Saint Matthew who tells us the details of the visitors who came from the east. They searched for the child who had been born king of the Jews, for they had observed his star at its rising (Mt 2:1-2) and wanted to pay him homage.
Saint Matthew wrote his gospel in order to help Christians who had been converted from Judaism to preserve the details of the life and ministry of Jesus. It is significant that Matthew is the only one of the gospel writers to tell the story of the visit of the Magi. Perhaps he wanted to demonstrate the fact that Jesus was born and lived among us, not only so that Jews could learn about him, but in order that all people would be able to hear the good news that God came to his people. The light of faith was always intended to be spread throughout the world – even to its farthest ends, and therefore we must understand the visit of the Magi as the fulfillment of Isaiah’s prophecy: Arise, shine he says, for your light has come and the glory of the Lord has risen upon you! (Is 60:1).
Guided by the light of a star, the wise men set out in search of the child. When they saw that the star had stopped, they were overwhelmed with joy (Mt 2:9-10). The same gift of joy that was shared with the shepherds when the angels told them about the birth of the child was also shared with these visitors from afar, and this same gift of joy is also shared with each one of us if we – like the Magi – are willing to set out in search of Jesus.
How their hearts must have burned with joy as they knelt before the infant king to present their treasures. That overwhelming joy was also present in the heart of Saint Paul after he had encountered Jesus, so much so that he set out and travelled extensively in order to share the good news with many who were not of Jewish origin. Because of his zeal Gentiles have also become fellow heirs, members of the same body, and sharers in the promise in Christ Jesus (Eph 3:6).
Today, all of us are once again little children gathered around the manger scene. There is a part of us that will always marvel at the way that the little figurines seem to move, and there should always be a part of us that stands in awe when we realize that we are all sharers in the promise of eternal life because Jesus came to live among us.
Trouver son étoile
L’un de mes souvenirs de Noël – qui remonte aux années de mon enfance – c’était la crèche qui serait installée dans toutes les maisons que nous visiterions. Parmi les plus élaborées, il y avait celui qui serait aménagée chez mes grands-parents. Aux yeux d’un enfant, cette scène était une merveille absolue. Elle couvrait toute une table et comprenait ce qui semblait être un village entier de bâtiments en plus de l’écurie. Il y avait une qualité magique aux figurines. Chaque fois que nous rendions visite au cours des semaines précédant Noēl, de plus en plus de sections du village étaient mises en place et les petites personnes semblaient se déplacer d’une partie à l’autre de la scène, y compris les rois mages qui commençaient leur voyage sur les bords de la scène et se dirigeaient lentement vers la crèche où ils arriveraient finalement le jour de l’Épiphanie.
Alors que l’évangile de saint Luc raconte le récit de la petite enfance de Jésus, c’est Saint Matthieu qui nous raconte les détails des visiteurs venus de l’est. Ils ont cherché le roi des Juifs qui venait de naître. Ils ont vu son étoile à l’orient et ils sont venus se prosterner devant lui (Mt 2,1-2).
Saint Matthieu a écrit son évangile afin d’aider les chrétiens convertis du judaïsme à préserver les détails de la vie et du ministère de Jésus. Il est significatif que Matthieu soit le seul des évangélistes à raconter l’histoire de la visite des rois mages. Peut-être a-t-il voulu démontrer le fait que Jésus était né et vivait parmi nous, non seulement pour que les Juifs puissent en apprendre davantage à son sujet, mais également pour que tout le monde puisse entendre la bonne nouvelle que Dieu est venu à la rencontre de son peuple. La lumière de la foi a toujours été destinée à se répandre dans le monde entier - même à ses extrémités les plus éloignées - et nous devons donc comprendre la visite des rois mages comme l'accomplissement de la prophétie d'Isaïe: Debut Jérusalem, resplendis! Elle est venue, ta lumière, et la gloire du Seigneur s’est levée sur toi (Is 60,1).
Guidés par la lumière d'une étoile, les rois mages sont partis à la recherche de l'enfant. Quand ils virent l'étoile, ils se réjouirent d’une très grande joie (Mt 2: 9-10). Cette même joie que les bergers ont connue lorsque les anges leur ont parlé de la naissance de l’enfant a également été partagée avec ces visiteurs venus de loin, et nous aussi, nous pouvons découvrir cette même joie si nous acceptons de partir à la recherche de Jésus à l’exemple des rois mages.
Leurs cœurs ont dû être remplis de joie alors qu’ils s’agenouillaient devant l’enfant pour lui présenter leurs trésors. Cette joie immense était également présente dans le cœur de Saint Paul après sa rencontre avec Jésus, à tel point qu'il s'est mis en route et a beaucoup voyagé afin de partager la bonne nouvelle avec beaucoup de personnes qui n'étaient pas d'origine juive. À cause de son zèle, toutes les nations sont associées au même héritage, au même corps, au partage de la même promesse dans le Christ Jésus (Ep 3,6).
Aujourd'hui, nous sommes tous à nouveau des petits enfants rassemblés autour de la crèche. Il y a une partie de nous qui sera toujours émerveillée par la façon dont les petites figurines semblent se déplacer, et il devrait toujours y en avoir une qui reste émerveillée lorsque nous réalisons que nous partageons tous la promesse de la vie éternelle le don de Jésus qui est venu vivre parmi nous.
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