Homily
Solemnity of the Epiphany of the Lord: Fr. Michael Ufok Udoekpo
·
Isa 60:1-6; · Ps 72:1-2,7-8,10-13;
· Eph 3:2-3a,5-6
· Matt 2:1-12
Let
Every Nation on earth Adore You O Lord!
The
responsorial Psalm “Lord, every nation on earth will adore you Lord” captures
the essence of what we celebrate today, the Epiphany of our Lord. Every
Solemnity of the Epiphany brings us together “to adore the Lord,” and
make him known to the whole world. Truly, our God who freely and willingly
manifested himself to us in Christ, deserves adoration and our
worship. He is the word that became flesh and dwelt among us (John 1:14).
This Word must be shared with our neighbors in words and in deeds.
Saint
Paul bore witness to this Word in his missionary journeys to the Gentile
nations as noted in the 2nd reading. Paul says, to the church in
Ephesus “you have heard of the stewardship of God’s grace that was given to me
for your benefits…. That the Gentiles are coheirs, members of the same body,
and copartners in the promise in Christ Jesus through the Gospel” (Eph 3:2-3a,
5-6).
Paul’s
message was long foretold by the prophet Isaiah in the first reading, “Rise up
in splendor, Jerusalem! Your Light has come, the glory of the Lord shines upon
you. See darkness covers the earth, and the thick cloud covers the peoples, but
upon you the Lord shines, and over you appear his glory. Nations shall walk by
light and kings by your shining radiance… bearing gold and frankincense, and proclaiming
the praises of the Lord” (Isa 60:1-6).
Christ's
Birth is an entrance of Light into the world of darkness. It is an entrance of
Light and Divine Strength into our human weaknesses, selfishness,
self- centeredness, and sufferings. It is a manifestation, of divine
goodness into our lives. It is an epiphany of God's love, his Mercy, his Tender
Care and Kindness to all nations and continents, Jews and Gentiles, poor and
rich, queens and kings.
Epiphany
is a manifestation of God to our children, to mummy and daddy, to husbands and
wives, seminarians and priests, to friends, partners, politicians, poets,
colleagues and peers. It is a feast when Jesus, who we celebrated at Christmas,
is made known to the whole world, to every continent and nations: Lord, every
nation on earth shall adore you” (Ps 72).
Epiphany is a gathering of every
nation to adore Christ. This is true even when you look at our faces, our
colors, and our eyes, particularly our last names. I was recently in Africa and
Europe the joy was the same at Christmas, every nation adoring the Lord- the
power of faith- only Christ can gather us together at birth and at death. What
a miracle of faith.
At
his birth, manifestation many reacted: the angels, who sang, “glory to God in
the highest,” the shepherds who traveled to the manger in Bethlehem to visit
with the holy family, Simeon, the prophet sang the nunc dimittis, while
Anna, the prophetess saw the uniqueness in Christ and spoke about this special
child to everyone(Luke 2). What is your reaction to the story of Christmas, to
the Christmas plays we watched, to Christmas carols and music we have listened
to, to all the Christmas homilies we have heard from the lips of the Pope,
bishops, different priests and pastors? Do you like Anna internalize it or be
ready to go out a manifest this love to others, the poor and the rich? Or do
you keep it to yourself?
In
today’s Gospel (Matt 2:1-12) the magi join in this chain of reaction. Guided by
the star, they came all the way from the East, from abroad outside
Bethlehem/Judea, to adore Christ, to worship Christ (proskunh/),
to submit themselves to Christ. They brought him gifts of gold, frankincense,
and myrrh as foretold by Isaiah the first reading.
Every
nation adores the Lord, including those who studied the stars. God can speak to
us. He can manifest Himself to us through our various professions and
occupations. All that he requires of us are (the gifts of)
disposition, willingness, openness and readiness, irrespective of our
profession. You can be an attorney, a nurse, a doctor, a secretary, a
receptionist, a broker, a plumber, a factory worker, a church volunteer, a
student, employed or unemployed, a trader, wine maker/tapper, a bank teller, a
football coach, a husband, housewife, a Jew or Gentile with deep faith.
We
can learn from the Gentiles the Magi. Their journeys I believe were not
rosy-rosy. Mostly likely there were some difficulties on the way. They must
have left their homes, children and family members searching for Christ in a
territory where Herod was appointed the king of the Jews by the Roman
imperialism. I am sure being learned scientists they were not naïve, they knew,
humanly it would be risky facing Herod, the reigning earthly king,
when at the same time searching to adore the heavenly King, the
true “King of the Jews,” and “the King of kings.” Being a faithful
Christian in this New Year and at the same time a good citizen is not always
easy. Being a good Christian and a good politician or a good member of the
United Nations was never going to be easy without faith. These things are
possible when we walk with deep faith, when we listen to the impulses of the
Holy Spirit, when we follow the light of Christ not our own will, as the magi
did and as prophesied long ago by the Prophet Isaiah “nations shall walk by
your light.”
Nations of professionals including
the magi from Sheba shall submit (proskunh/) themselves to Jesus and worship him. The precious gifts
they brought Christ from the East- gold, frankincense and myrrh are
significant. Gold recalls the royalty of Christ which lies in
his mission of justice, peace, love, forgiveness and holiness of life- Not
bullying, revenge and terrorism. In Frankincense we recall the perfume and the
incense we use during worship- which is a symbol of hope and faith that we all
place in Jesus our Messiah.
In
another place, Paul speaks of this in 2 Corinthian 2:15. St. Paul invites
us to bring out that noble “aroma of Christ” among ourselves: peace, love,
faith, hope, forgiveness, universalism, inclusiveness, friendship and acts of
charity. In Myrrh we recall the sufferings, the pains and passion of
Christ (Mark 15:20-23; Matt 27:33-44). And it was with Myrrh in John 19:39 that
Nichodemus anointed Christ’s body for burial.
Epiphany
is a celebration of our faith from the strength of our jobs, vocations and
occupations. Many with various occupations gathered here have that faith (Rom
12:3). Many with various professions are still searching for that faith. Like
in the case of the Magi sometimes the journey may be long and rough. In the
case of the Shepherds they risked abandoning their flocks and rushing to see
the Christ born at the manger in Bethlehem. Simeon and Anna did not mind their
old age. They faithfully and passionate sang and spoke about the blessings
brought to Israel by the redeemer- Christ.
For
us when we finally find that faith we are call to share it with others. This is
not a time for “globalization of indifference” mentioned by Pope Francis in his
2015 New Year Message. But a time to globalize the light/love of
Christ to others, including migrants, immigrants, refugees and the poor. We are
invited to share with and manifest the message of Christmas for our
friends, relatives and in our communities. We are called to manifest that
faith, that “measure of faith” to spread that aroma of Christ, that golden
peace, that inclusiveness, that joy, that charity, that forgiveness, those
gifts, among others, among every nation. Lord every nation on earth will adore
you!
Reflection
Questions:
1.
How willing are you to share Christ’s
faith, love, hope and blessings you have been blessed with, with others? Do you
see yourself as an agent of evangelization?
2.
How relatable are you to the readings and
the figures mentioned in today’s scriptures?
