Solemnity of the Epiphany of the Lord
A couple of weeks back I drew a contrast between Ahaz and Joseph. I had said that whereas Ahaz was playing games with God, Joseph had shown incredible capacity for fidelity and trust in God. Today, I want to contrast King Herod and the wise kings/men that came from afar. There are many points on which Herod and the wise men differ. First, the wise men are on a search. “Where is the newborn king of the Jews?” they asked. Herod, on the other hand, was king of the very land the king of the Jews was born and neither did he know about it nor did he see the star. Second, the scriptures tell us that Herod was “greatly troubled” when he heard that a star had appeared announcing the birth of Jesus. It seems to me that he was afraid. How could a child be a threat to a king? But his fear was so intense that it made him act irrationally. Many innocent children were killed in the process. In contrast, the gospel reading tells us that the wise men were “overjoyed at seeing the star” and the “child with his mother.” The wise men did the baby homage and offered him gifts. They do not see the child as a threat but rather as an opportunity to know God.
The history of the world in many ways replays this story again and again. Throughout history there have been people and movements, who, in their search for meaning, saw God as a threat to humanity. It almost seems me that, like Herod, they were afraid of God. Take, for example the Enlightenment which began in the 17 century in Europe. It was an effort by people to organize society on the merits of human ability, totally independent from divine wisdom. Or take systematic atheism for that matter, in which, belief is God is impossible for lack of logical or scientific proof. We can add to this list – natural evolutionism, atheistic communism, valueless capitalism, atheistic secularism. In each of these ideologies, God and society, God and human rationality, God and human freedom are considered incompatible. There have also been people in history, who, like Herod considered an entire people as a threat. Take Hitler, for example, who made the Jews his target in the same way that Herod targeted children. In contrast, there were those people who used human freedom and intelligence to enhance humanity through their knowledge of God. St. Augustine, Thomas Aquinas, St. Bonaventure, Teresa of Avila – they found their humanity fulfilled in their search for divine wisdom. Like the wise men, they found themselves in their experience of God.
I would like to present three practical implications from today’s feast and readings.
a) On a very basic level, today’s feast leads us to reflect upon our spiritual life. The wise men were on a quest; they were on a search; they were on a spiritual journey. We are told that they were led by a star. But I also think that the Star was the consciousness within them that could have found its destiny only in God. As a practical implication, I suggest that we look at our own spiritual journey? What is the Star that is leading us? Where is the Star leading us? Who is at the end of the Star? Let me put these questions In another way. Since last year, have we grown in our relationship with God? Since last year, has our relationship with God let us to a better relationship with the people around us? Has our relationship with God made us more humble, peaceful, loving, reconciling, just and honest people? Have we become better faithful disciples? We also must think about what our spiritual journey will look like in the coming year? Are there things we must do to become even more faithful and radical disciple of Jesus?
b) Today we want to confront our fears. People are afraid of many things. Some of these fears are real while others may be a fiction of our own imagination. The threat of terrorism, economic recession, brokenness in families, fear of failure or even our own insecurities – these are real fears. But then, like Herod, our fears can sometimes also be irrational. Herod did not need to be afraid, but he was. To fear terrorism is rational but to fear an entire people, could that be irrational? We must protect our borders, but should we fear all immigrants? We must be careful in the way we live life, but should we succumb to our insecurities? Fear will make us do irrational things. What are our fears – rational and irrational? I wonder if Herod could have brought himself before God and face his fears with God…. If only Herod had come to manger that day…. Today, we have the opportunity to bring our fears –rational and irrational – before this little child Jesus? Let us face our fears with God.
c) Today, we must consider the dignity and sanctity of human life in its entirety. For Herod, life was dispensable. He could do away with life for his own selfish end. Today, more than ever, human life is at stake. Not only life in the womb but also life outside the womb. As Catholics our position on life in the womb is clear. Catholics will do anything to protect life in the womb because this life is innocent. But many Catholics are ambiguous about life outside the womb. Can Catholics openly support capital punishment? What about innocent victims of war? Can Catholics just say that it is a necessary evil? What about those who die of hunger and starvation? The Catholic position on life is that all life is sacred. Let today’s feast lead to value all life – in the womb and outside.
Just like a little baby beckoned the wise men and through them the entire world to the light, this simple bread and wine beckon us today. Let us bring ourselves before Jesus, with our fears and insecurities. Let our Star stop above this altar. Here let us find our God to whom we do homage. Amen.
- Fr. Satish Joseph