The Epiphany of the Lord, Sunday – 03rd January 2021 — Gospel: Mt 2,1-12
Pious Politician and Obedient Wisemen
The word “epiphany” comes from the Greek, meaning “to shine upon,” “to manifest,” or “to make known.” Epiphany signifies God’s manifestation in the person of Jesus Christ to humanity. Jesus also has made himself known to the world through his public ministry. “Advent” originally meant the coming of a royal person or a high dignitary, but the gospels changed that meaning to the coming of the poor Jesus of Nazareth. “Epiphany” originally meant the abrupt manifestation or showing up of a sovereign to inspect a subordinate; but the gospels changed the meaning to the appearance of the poor Jesus of Nazareth to inspect the powerful.
Matthew starts his gospel by showing a contrast between the Gentiles and Jewish secular and religious leaders. The Magi “knelt down and paid him homage”, but King Herod wanted to kill him. Matthew wants to show throughout his gospel that Jewish leaders rejected Jesus and oppressed him, but the Gentiles accepted him. Herod was not an Israelite but an Idumean, whose politics was marked by secrecy and terror. Politicians learned from Herod the language of piety. Under the guise of “paying homage” to the newborn baby, Herod hides his intentions of removing the baby from the map, and removing him from history. He was greatly troubled with the news of the magi, the fascinating royal child and the moving stars. He felt threatened and worried about his throne. Therefore he inflicts horror by massacring the innocent children in and around Bethlehem.
Dreams were viewed as supernatural and as crucial methods of divine communication with humans. In the Matthean birth narrative, they serve an important function. Joseph married Mary, left Bethlehem, and returned to Nazareth all on account of listening to dreams. Similarly, the wise men got their wisdom also from dreams. While dreaming, the creative unconsciousness allowed them to see the evil that Herod tried to conceal behind a pious mask. And so the magi didn’t pay attention to Herod’s allusion: “When you find him, bring me word so that I may also go and pay him homage.” They knew that in politics a suggestion is an order, but the three wise men opted for Gospel obedience. The three kings, like Peter, have a higher royalty: “We must obey God rather than any human authority.” (Acts 5,29). Therefore, they averted disaster by listening to their dream and returning “by another road.” It may look that they were frightened by Herod, but there is some mystery here – that once you have met the Christ child, you do not keep moving along the same old pathways.
The intermingling of conflict with a call to revere is profound in the above characters. There is terror and tension. There is also wonder and worship. Herod is filled with anxiety and paranoia that he fabricates his intent to pay homage (Mt 2,8.12). Nevertheless, the wise men travel through the cheating in order to share their treasure. Herod’s anger stands in stark contrast to the awe and curiosity of the magi. He is overcome with fear. Upon seeing the child, the magi are overwhelmed with joy. Herod is not the recipient of honour. Yet, the bowing of the magi to the newborn Jesus reveals their understanding about the promised Messiah. The magi “show up.” Herod “shows out.”
