The Epiphany of the Lord is a celebration of the revelation of Jesus Christ to the Gentiles, and it marks the beginning of the missionary work of the Church. The Magi, who were likely astronomers or astrologers from ancient Persia, followed a star to Bethlehem, where they found the baby Jesus and worshiped him, offering gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh.
The Epiphany of the Lord is a time for Christians to reflect on the universal nature of God's love and the mission of the Church to spread the Good News of Jesus Christ to all nations. It is also a time to celebrate the diversity and richness of cultures and traditions that make up the global Christian community.
Some of the key themes and symbols associated with the Epiphany of the Lord include:
- The star of Bethlehem, which represents the light of Christ that guides us on our journey
- The Magi, who represent the seekers of truth and wisdom from all nations
- The gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh, which represent the treasures of the earth and the richness of human culture
- The baby Jesus, who represents the gift of God's love and salvation to all humanity.
As we celebrate the Epiphany of the Lord, we are reminded of the importance of:
- Seeking wisdom and truth in our lives
- Being open to the guidance of the Holy Spirit
- Embracing the diversity and richness of human culture
- Sharing the Good News of Jesus Christ with all nations.
_Reflection question:_ What does the Epiphany of the Lord mean to you? How can you apply the themes and symbols of this feast day to your life and relationships? What gifts can you offer to Jesus, and how can you share the Good News of his love and salvation with others?
TAKE HOME CATECHESIS: Until about 60 years ago, only young men who wanted to become Priests were allowed to become Altar servers, Choristers and Lectors.
1 WHAT DOES EPIPHANY MEAN?
“Epiphany” comes from the ancient Greek “Epiphaeia” which means “Manifestation” or “revelation.”
The “Epiphany” refers to the moment when Jesus, the Son of God, was revealed to the Gentiles and not just to the Jews. It demonstrates that Jesus came to save everyone, irrespective of tribe, tongue or race. It was marked by the visit of the Wise Men from the East as contained in the Gospel reading of today.
2 HOW MANY WISE MEN
VISITED JESUS?
Scripture never mentioned a specific number. It only mentioned “Wise men from the East” (Matt. 2:1)
Most people believe however that there were just three Wise Men (Caspar, Melchior and Balthasar) because three gifts were presented. In the Eastern Church however, they are believed to be twelve Wise Men who visited Jesus.
Whether they were 3 or 12 should not be much of our concern. The key lesson here should be that we must always approach Jesus with the gifts of our time, talent and treasures.
3 WHAT GIFTS DID THE WISE MEN PRESENT? #3
Gold - This denoted that the child who was born would be King, having dominion over men and spirits alike (see 1 Cor. 15:25).
Frankincense - This indicated that the child would be Priest, offering the greatest sacrifice of all time (see heb. 10:11-12).
Myrrh - This was an ointment used to preserve the bodies of dead people. It denoted that Jesus would die for mankind but would not remain dead.
4 WHY DID GOD LET HIS SON BE BORN IN A MANGER
Even the Wise Men expected Jesus to be born in the Palace. This explains why they went to Herod first (see Matt. 2:2). This proves further that man’s wisdom is foolishness before God (1 Cor. 3:19). His ways are not our ways (Is. 55:8)
Some of us only expect to find God in pleasant situations. God also teaches us and speaks to us in unpleasant experiences. If he leads you away from the Palace to the Manger, do not hesitate to go with Him (see Ps. 23:4).
5 WHAT DOES THE ATTITUDE OF THE WISE MEN AFTER MEETING JESUS TEACH US?
After encountering Jesus, the Wise Men changed their route and returned through another road (Matt. 2:12).
Since you met Jesus, what has changed about you? What do you now do differently? How does your knowledge of Jesus influence your choices?
The Epiphany of the Lord is a significant event in the Bible, and it is recorded in the Gospel of Matthew, chapter 2, verses 1-12. Here is the biblical account of the Epiphany:
After Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, during the time of King Herod, Magi from the east came to Jerusalem and asked, "Where is the one who has been born king of the Jews? We saw his star when it rose and have come to worship him." (Matthew 2:1-2)
When King Herod heard this, he was disturbed, and all Jerusalem with him. He called together all the people's chief priests and teachers of the law and asked them where the Messiah was to be born. They told him, "In Bethlehem in Judea, for this is what the prophet has written:
"'But you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah,
are by no means least among the rulers of Judah;
for out of you will come a ruler
who will shepherd my people Israel.'" (Matthew 2:3-6, quoting Micah 5:2-4)
Then Herod called the Magi secretly and found out from them the exact time the star had appeared. He sent them to Bethlehem and said, "Go and search carefully for the child. As soon as you find him, report to me, so that I too may go and worship him." (Matthew 2:7-8)
After they had heard the king, they went on their way, and the star they had seen when it rose went ahead of them until it stopped over the place where the child was. When they saw the star, they were overjoyed. On coming to the house, they saw the child with his mother Mary, and they bowed down and worshiped him. Then they opened their treasures and presented him with gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh. (Matthew 2:9-11)
*The Significance of the Epiphany*
The Epiphany of the Lord is significant because it represents the first time that Jesus was revealed to the Gentiles (non-Jews). The Magi, who were likely astronomers or astrologers from ancient Persia, followed a star to Bethlehem and worshiped Jesus, recognizing him as the King of the Jews.
The Epiphany also marks the beginning of the missionary work of the Church, as Jesus is revealed to the world and the Good News of his birth, life, death, and resurrection is shared with all nations.
*Biblical Themes*
The Epiphany of the Lord relates to several biblical themes, including:
- *The Light of Christ*: The star that guided the Magi to Bethlehem represents the light of Christ that guides us on our journey.
- *The Universal Nature of God's Love*: The Epiphany represents the universal nature of God's love, as Jesus is revealed to the Gentiles and the Good News is shared with all nations.
- *The Importance of Worship*: The Magi's worship of Jesus represents the importance of worship and recognizing Jesus as the King of kings and Lord of lords.
- *The Gift of Salvation*: The gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh represent the gift of salvation that Jesus brings to the world.
_Reflection question:_ What does the Epiphany of the Lord mean to you? How can you apply the themes and symbols of this feast day to your life and relationships? What gifts can you offer to Jesus, and how can you share the Good News of his love and salvation with others?
Here are more details about the Epiphany of the Lord:
*The Story of the Magi*The story of the Magi is found in the Gospel of Matthew, chapter 2, verses 1-12. According to the story, the Magi were a group of wise men from the East who were skilled in astronomy and astrology. They saw a star in the sky that they believed signaled the birth of a new king, and they set out to follow it to find the child.
The Magi traveled to Jerusalem, where they met with King Herod and asked him where they could find the newborn king. Herod, who was threatened by the idea of a new king, told them to search for the child and report back to him. The Magi continued their journey, following the star to Bethlehem, where they found the baby Jesus and worshiped him.
*The Significance of the Epiphany*
The Epiphany of the Lord is significant for several reasons:
- *The Revelation of Jesus to the Gentiles*: The Epiphany marks the first time that Jesus is revealed to non-Jews, representing the universal nature of God's love and salvation.
- *The Beginning of the Missionary Work of the Church*: The Epiphany marks the beginning of the Church's mission to spread the Good News of Jesus Christ to all nations.
- *The Celebration of Diversity and Culture*: The Epiphany celebrates the diversity and richness of human culture, represented by the Magi and their gifts.
*Traditions and Customs*
The Epiphany of the Lord is celebrated in many different ways around the world. Some common traditions and customs include:
- *The Exchange of Gifts*: Many people exchange gifts on the Epiphany, symbolizing the gifts of the Magi.
- *The Blessing of Homes*: In some countries, people have their homes blessed by a priest on the Epiphany, symbolizing the visit of the Magi to the home of Jesus.
- *The Eating of Special Foods*: Many people eat special foods on the Epiphany, such as king cake or galette des rois, which contain a hidden bean or coin representing the Magi.
- *The Singing of Special Hymns*: Many churches sing special hymns on the Epiphany, such as "We Three Kings" or "As with Gladness Men of Old".
*Reflection and Prayer*
As we celebrate the Epiphany of the Lord, we can reflect on the following themes and prayers:
- *The Light of Christ*: We can reflect on the light of Christ that guides us on our journey, and pray for the courage to follow it.
- *The Universal Nature of God's Love*: We can reflect on the universal nature of God's love, and pray for the ability to share it with others.
- *The Richness of Human Culture*: We can reflect on the richness and diversity of human culture, and pray for the ability to appreciate and celebrate it.
_Reflection question:_ What does the Epiphany of the Lord mean to you? How can you apply the themes and symbols of this feast day to your life and relationships? What gifts can you offer to Jesus, and how can you share the Good News of his love and salvation with others?
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HAPPY SOLEMNITY
OF THE
EPIPHANY
OF THE LORD
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