The Epiphany of the Lord comes every year as a reminder that we are also searching. We are constantly searching for the meaning of life, and we want to know who we are, why we are here, and why things happen the way they happen. Within the Greek mythologies, answers to these questions will be about gods who sort to hurt or harm humanity.
As we celebrate, Epiphany means manifestation, the manifestation of God in his tender love and mercy, contrary to the Greek mythology of harmful gods. He, the Christ, appeared in human form; in our human condition, he manifested himself, yet he was divine. The Magi, guided by the star, met him as a human and adored his divinity. Our God reveals himself as tender love, the God of all peoples on earth, men and women, every race and tongue. Like the Magi set on a long journey that might have entailed fatigue and other challenges, yet without giving up until they saw the tender love of God, to us Christians, it is a journey towards our fulfillment; Christ the true King, the most divine. Let us offer the King and Lord our hearts as gifts of gold, ready to serve him and our neighbor. We offer our prayer, praise, and sacrifice as our gifts of frankincense and our everyday challenges and sufferings as Myrrh.
The Magi’s gifts were not for themselves but for Christ. These gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh embody the meaning we search for in our lives. And just as the kings do not come to be served but to serve and to give their possessions, wealth, power and entire lives to the service of the presence of God in the world, let us also go forth to serve with mercy and love.
Joy and Peace
