Solemnity of the Epiphany of the Lord

01-07-2024Weekly ReflectionFr. Bing Colasito

The Solemnity of the Epiphany reveals the Divine plan of salvation of the world not limited to the Jews but opened to all humanity. God manifested or revealed Himself (Epiphany) as the Savior Jesus Christ to the Gentile world represented by the Magi or the Three Wise Men from the East. God revealed His plan, first to the Jewish people and veiled from the rest of the world. But in the fullness of time, God bared that the Gentiles are also part of the mystery of the redemption of the human race. Salvation is no longer exclusive to the Jews but for all.

While the Lord was born to a particular race, place, and culture, God wants His coming manifested to the whole world, especially those who live in darkness. For centuries, the Jewish people, the oppressed people, awaited the Messiah. People from all nations longed for Him, even the non Jews. When He came, His people did not receive Him, and King Herod wanted to kill Him. In contrast, the Magi came from the East in search of Him. Herod was troubled by the words of the Magi, but the simplehearted shepherds and Magi welcomed the Baby Jesus with Joy and gratitude to God. The openness of their heart allowed them to see the mystery of His plan and endowed them with the power to experience joy, peace, contentment, and love.

The Magi found the Baby Jesus because of the silence of their heart. By this silence, they recognize the sign of the coming of the Messiah. Only in the silence of their heart could they have seen the Silent Star go by. In their longing and silence, they recognize the STAR of the newborn King, the awaited Messiah. Trusting in the guidance of Silent Start, they journeyed day and night until they found the Baby Jesus in Bethlehem.

O little town of Bethlehem How still we see the lie Above the deep and dreamless sleep the Silent Stars go by O morning stars, together Proclaim the Holy birth And praises sing to God the King And peace to men on earth.

King Herod was a paranoid and disturbed tyrant. The news from the Magi shocked him to his core. His heart was noisy, jealous, insecure, full of doubts and fears, and rage. Up to this moment, he was covering all his tracks to keep in power by eliminating all possible threats to his throne, even from family members. The execution of family members led Emperor Augustus to say: It is better to be a pig than a son of Herod (Macrobius, Saturnalia, 2:4:11) the joke being that, since he was a Jew, he did not eat pork and his pig would be safe. When he realized that the Magi returned to their land without informing him of the whereabouts of the newborn king, he was furious and ordered the massacre of all boys two years and under. Such was the condition of Herod that the Prince of Peace could not be born in his heart.

In the silence of the heart of the Magi, they knew that the Messiah could only be born in the peaceful setting of a manger. It was in the gentle breeze that Elijah experienced God. It was in the silence of a dream that Joseph received guidance from God. Jesus went into the silence of the desert and the mountain to commune with His FATHER. In the silence of Gethsemane, the Lord heard the Father’s affirming love. In silence, I hear Jesus’ heartbeat. Be still and know that Jesus is our God.