In The Shoes Of The Wise

Fr. Marcel Divine Emeka Okwara CSsR

Homily on the Solemnity of the Epiphany of the Lord

January 2, 2011

Let’s keep in mind that the season of Christmas is not yet over. The commercial Christmas is almost over, but the real season of Christmas is still here with us. For Christians, especially Catholics, real Christmas does not end. Sometimes we hear people say “Everyday is not Christmas,” meaning, “everyday is not celebration;” “free gifts and fun do not occur everyday.” But to be sincere with you, everyday should be Christmas. For friends of God, everyday is Christmas; but not Christmas in the sense of partying, exchange of gifts, commercialization that happens before and after Christmas etc, but in the sense of allowing the Word of God take flesh in their hearts. For us, Christmas ought to be an every day experience in the sense of allowing Jesus Christ to be born again in our hearts, in our lives, in our relationships, in our interaction with people, in our relationship with the world. Christmas is everyday for those who receive the Word of God in their hearts and allow the Word to guide their steps, to shape their lives and to form their characters. Remember the words of the Scripture, “Your Word is a lamp unto my feet; and a light unto my path” (Psalm 119:105).

Dearest beloved, today we celebrate the Solemnity of the Epiphany of our Lord Jesus Christ. Few days ago, we rejoiced and celebrated the incarnation; few days ago we celebrated the birth of our Redeemer in Bethlehem. On that very day, the angel of the Lord led us to the manger. Today, we celebrate his Epiphany, his manifestation to the nations. The Epiphany of the Lord is the manifestation of the Son of God to the nations of the world. Today we celebrate the Son of God who came from the bosom of the Father to the bosom of a Woman, put on humanity that we might put on divinity. Today, we celebrate Jesus, who became the Son of Man that we might become sons and daughters of God. Today, the Son of God manifests himself as the Son of Man. Today, God shows himself a human being. Today, the King of kings and the Lord of lord shows himself a subject. Today the giver of all things manifests himself as a needy. Today the owner of all riches shows himself a poor child.

Today’s gospel taken from Matthew 2:1-12 tells us that the Magi from the East came to Jerusalem looking for Jesus the new born King. The gospel said they arrived in Jerusalem with a question, “Where is the newborn King of the Jews? We saw his star at its rising and have come to do him homage.” Jerusalem was a beautiful city. It was a great city of trade and commerce. But when the Magi arrived, they were not interested in beholding the beauty of Jerusalem; they were not interested in trading their treasures for money; all they cared to know was where the child was. They were desperately not looking for silver and gold; they were looking for the owner of silver and gold. They were not looking for the important people in the city- the Lords, the scholars, the lawyers, doctors, the priests, the Levites or even the prophets, they were looking for the Lord of Lords; they were looking for the King of kings; they were looking for whom scholars called the Logos; they were looking for the one lawyers debated about; they were looking for the one all the true prophets spoke about. They were urgently looking for the Savior and their salvation. You know, a discovery of the Savior leads to salvation.

When Herod heard that a new King has been born, he was greatly worried. But when the Magi heard that a King has been born, they were greatly excited and wanted to see him. While they were looking for the King to pay him homage; Herod was looking for him to destroy him. While Herod was worried, the Magi were excited. What the Magi came to do was in accord with today’s responsorial psalm, “Lord, all nations shall fall prostrate before you.” The gospel says “on entering the house they saw the child with Mary his mother. They prostrated themselves and did him homage.” Then they opened their treasures, and offered him gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh. They offered the Lord the gift of gold. Gold was a symbol of his kingship and power; the newborn child is going to be a king. They offered him frankincense. Frankincense is a particular kind of incense used in religious ceremonies and worship to give honor to what was considered holy. Frankincense was a symbol of his priesthood. The newborn child is going to be a priest. Finally, they offered him myrrh. Myrrh is an ointment which was used to heal wounds, and to also embalm the bodies of the dead. Myrrh symbolized Christ’s death on the cross. The newborn child is going to die on the cross in order to bring about the healing of God’s people. Myrrh was used to heal; it was given to Jesus showing that Jesus is the healer of the world. Remember John 10:10!

Dearest beloved! There is something about this Bible passage that is easily overlooked or not even considered at all. We always preach about the homage of the Magi and the gifts and the significance of the gifts they offered to the Lord. But we hardly talk about the sequence of what was given. The first thing the Magi gave to the Lord was the offering of their lives. Prostration is a concrete sign of surrender and adoration. Prostration is a symbolic act of total self giving. It is an honest gesture of total abandonment. When they saw the newborn King, the first thing they offered him was not their material treasures. They offered him first what he most desired and cherished- the offering of their lives. St. Paul in Romans 12:1 says “Therefore I urge you brethren, by the mercies of God to offer your bodies (your lives) as a living and holy sacrifice acceptable to God, which is your spiritual service of worship.” The best gift we can offer to God especially in the beginning of this New Year is the gift of our lives. The Magi offered themselves first before offering their treasures. And in the real sense of it, God does not need gold; he doesn’t need silver; he does not need any material things. Material things cannot praise the Lord; material things cannot worship our God; gold or frankincense or myrrh cannot adore the King of kings. God does not need material things; but he needs us.

Does it surprise you to hear that God needs us? I am sure you must have heard it before that God does not need anything, that he does not need us. I have heard it too. Well, God needs something, and that is you and I. God is love. God loves us. God also needs us. He needs us to show us his love; he needs us to manifest his love; he needs us to demonstrate his goodness; he needs us to also love him in return. Since God is love, he must always love something and somebody. God needs us to express his love; but we need God to survive. There is a link between God’s love and God’s need. So, God has a need. His need is you; his need is me. His need is every one of us. God’s only need is you and I. So the assertion that God does not need anything is not entirely true. We need God; God needs us. But God does not need us to be God. He only needs us to shower his love, mercy and goodness.

On seeing the Lord, the Magi paid him homage. As we experience the King of kings and the Lord of lords, let’s remember to pay him homage. When your prayers are answered, remember to do him homage. Begin your day doing him homage. Pass through the day doing him homage. End your day doing him homage. Doing nothing does not do him homage; gossip and lies do not do him homage; unfaithfulness and deceit do not do him homage; religious hypocrisy and double-standard life do not do him homage; back-biting, envy, jealous and assassination one’s character do not do him homage; religious indifference and radical moral behavior do not do him homage; narcissism, egotism, pride, and self-aggrandizement do not do him any homage; selfishness, greed and uncontrollable quest for material things do not do him any homage. Leave your house in the morning paying him homage; return home paying him homage; retire to sleep paying him homage. Pay him homage in your relationship; pay him homage in your working place; pay him homage while driving; pay him homage in your discussions and phone conversations; pay him homage in your dealings with others; pay him homage in your eating habit; pay him homage in your drinking habit; pay him homage even in love-making. Love making between a married man and his wife gives glory to God. Healthy sexual relationship can lead to an encounter with God.

Today’s gospel ended this way: “And having been warned in a dream not to return to Herod, they departed for their country by another way.” Dearest beloved, it is now time to return home another way. Do not go back to Herod. Part of the reasons why we call the Magi “wise men” is because they had the wisdom to search for their Savior, and when they had found him “returned to their own country by another way.” They had wisdom! Scripture tells us that wisdom is a defense. She was present with God when God created the world. People went to Jerusalem for economic reasons and pleasure. But these men came to Jerusalem seeking for their King. On leaving Jerusalem, they went home another way. They refused to return to Herod the hater of the Savior. But in our own journey, we have returned to Herod many times. Herod is the devil; Herod is the world; Herod is the self. Herod could be our mind- our thought. Herod could be our heart- our feeling. Herod could be our eyes- the things we behold. Herod could be the name of a person, place or thing. Herod could be our friend; it could be the place you go to; it could be food or drink or other material things. You may have promised God not go back to Herod, but sooner or later finds yourself going back to him. The wise men on encountering the Lord went home another way. Today, let’s decide to go home another way. Do not return to Herod. Herod is not happy that your Savior is born. Herod is not happy that you have found your Savior. Herod is not happy that you are saved. Herod is not happy that you are happy. Herod wants to destroy all that. Do not go back to him. If you have left him; leave him in the past. If you have encountered him before, do not go back to him. Forward march! Forward ever! Backward never!