Saint Bernard of Clairvaux says of Epiphany, “What are you doing, O Magi? Do you adore a little Babe, in a wretched hovel, wrapped in miserable rags? Can this Child be truly God? … Are you become foolish, O Wise Men … Yes, these Wise Men have become fools that they may be wise.”
This week we take a fresh look at what the Epiphany can mean for us today. The gospel episode climaxes with the words, The Magi “…entered the house and saw the child in the arms of Mary, his mother. Overcome, they kneeled and worshiped him. Then they opened their luggage and presented gifts: gold, frankincense, myrrh.” Matthew 2:11
This is one of the world’s greatest stories, full of drama, radiance and mystery. We know from the slaughter of the innocents that there were a number of male children born around Bethlehem at that time, so what makes this child so special?
The story of the Wise Men is telling us that in the birth of this child God is doing something of unsurpassable significance, something that transforms the darkness of human history into hope and light. Everything serves the divine project: Nature is shown to be at this child’s service in the form of a guiding star; the Wise Men from the East stand for all the nations; the world of dreams is orchestrated to assist them, and the safe escape of the travellers indicates that evil is overcome by good.
With this background, we too can kneel down and pay homage to the child.
Almighty and ever-living God, you revealed the incarnation of your Son by the brilliant shining of a star. Shine the light of your justice always in our hearts and over all lands, and accept our lives as the treasure we offer in your praise and for your service, through Jesus Christ, our Saviour and Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen
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