Homily on the Solemnity of the Epiphany of the Lord, Year B

Enduring Spiritual Lessons From The Magi

Rev. Marcel Divine Emeka Okwara, CSsR

Homily on the Solemnity of the Epiphany of the Lord, Year B

St. Alphonsus Catholic Church, Brooklyn Center, MN

Sunday, January 7, 2024

For centuries, the story of the magi, the three wise men (Matthew 2:1-12) going to see the infant Jesus has dazzled artists, preachers, commentators and observers. A lot has been said and written about this amazing story that you might be tempted to think there is nothing more to say or write about it. But I still believe there are deep spiritual lessons to be learned from this story that is very familiar to us. To start with, who were the magi? They were a combination of what we can call astronomers and astrologers. In the culture of Persia (today called Iran) where the magi possibly came from, there was a well-developed practice of star-gazing. For what purpose? Partly for scientific purposes, but mostly to discern and observe in the stars and the heavenly bodies, signs of God’s intention and purpose. So, the Magi, night after night, in season and out of season, would gaze at the stars and try to see the purpose of God. What’s the first spiritual lesson? Be attentive in the spiritual order. Make it a habit to spend time looking at your overall life with focused attention and see if you can see signs of God’s presence. We spend time attending to all kinds of things— family, business, money, politics, economy, entertainment, checking who is up and who is down, who has the latest car, latest designer this and that, gossip, etc. And when we engage in any of this, we devote a great deal of time thinking and attending to them. Do we take some time to look at the events in our life for the purpose of finding God’s will and purpose? In the family, it is either the husband is complaining that the wife is praying too long or it is the children. And after a repeated complaint that ten or fifteen minutes are reserved for prayer, the family altogether stops praying. When it comes to the things of God, we want shortcuts and drive through. Think of the Magi looking up into the stars as an image of prayer, of contemplation, of seeking out the purposes of God. How much time do we spend doing that? 

Second lesson: we are told that the moment the Magi saw the star, they moved. In the ancient world, travel was dicey, unrelentingly harsh and severe. Today, we have paved highways, and can drive for hours. And if we are flying, the airports and airplanes are made to give us some comfort. You can wake up in one country and sleep in another. But in ancient times, traveling was a very difficult venture. In those days, people made their last will and testament before embarking on a long journey, because the possibility of not coming back alive was quite high. Traveling exposed people to brigands and robbers and kidnappers etc. But once the magi read the star and saw the sign, they acted and moved. They did what God wanted them to do. The rough tracks and paths and mountains and valleys and other dangers of the road did not deter them. As we live our ordinary life, we can discern the will of God. God can catch your attention even when you are cooking or cleaning your garage or sharing a meal with your family, but only if you are attentive, and if you are not distracted. Once it is clear that God is asking you to do something, you must muster the courage and energy to act, and to do it. Despite the difficulties, fear and uncertainties, we must act. If God is asking you to forgive your spouse, your son, daughter, relative, neighbor, church-member, you must muster the courage to do it. Do not let the fear of “if I forgive now, they may do it again,” “If I forgive again, they might think I am a wimp.” Just move and act. It is better to be called weak or wimp and then you make heaven than to be called strong and decisive and eventually you don’t make it. Remember the Blessed Mother. In the wake of the Annunciation, the Gospel says that she proceeded in haste into the hill country of Judea. Once she knew what the will of God was, she acted. She moved. The same with the Magi. Once they knew the will of God for them, they made the perilous journey, away from their homeland by following the star. 

Immediately the magi crossed the borders, they faced opposition from Herod the King. He is terrified upon hearing that a new king has been born. What frightens and terrifies the kings and leaders of this world, especially those that cling tenaciously and desperately to power? Any rival or opposition to their power! Once Herod heard of the Magi who had crossed his borders and into his territory, he tried to block them and to use them to get to this Baby-King. What is the third spiritual lesson? In the spiritual journey, we are always going to face opposition. I don’t mean sometimes or most of the time, but always. When you walk the spiritual path, that path traced for you by God, you will face opposition. Check the Bible and you will see this point made over and over again. As Israelites were heading to the Promised Land, they faced the opposition of the red sea. They were blocked from escaping. Remember  the Philistines, the Assyrians, the wall of Jericho and other forces that opposed Israel. But why? Because we live in a fallen and compromised world affected by sin in every aspect. We are all sinners and every individual we meet is a sinner. This very reality will be seen in our society, in our institutions, in our attitudes and even in the church. The fact remains that we tend toward sin and selfishness. But when someone has discerned the will of God, and they muster the courage to move and to act, they will face the opposition of the world. Let’s be honest here. When we see someone doing the will of God, living in righteousness, it disturbs and annoys us in some ways. Why? Because it reminds us sinners of what we are not doing. In response, we criticize or get in their way. More to it, you will also face the opposition of enemies you cannot see. St. Paul said we are not fighting against flesh and blood, but with principalities, with the dark spiritual powers and with evil spirits in the heavens (Ephesians 6:12). I tell you, there are forces unseen that oppose the ways of God. As long as we are opposed to God, they won’t bother because we are in line with them. But the moment we start walking in the spiritual path, those invisible powers will also seek to block us. Sadly, for a lot of us, once we start walking the spiritual path and we face opposition, we panic and say, “I’m not ready for this,” “I did not bargain for this.” But now, I am telling you to expect it. And muster the courage with God’s grace to confront it. 

The fourth spiritual lesson: after the magi left Herod, they continued to follow the star until they came to the Baby-King. The Gospel of Matthew says they opened their bags and offered him extraordinary gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh. Traditionally, we know that gold means he is a King, frankincense means he is a divine priest, and myrrh means he will suffer and die. Right? But let’s now look at it differently in a more general sense. Some of us, after making a lot of progress in their spiritual journey, we discern God’s will for us, we muster enough courage to act and walk the spiritual path, we confront the opposition that arise, but in the great hour of grace, at a decisive moment, we fail to give Christ what is best in us. We love the Lord but not with our whole mind, soul, heart, strength, passion and emotion. We want to give a little bit, but not the best of our talent, abilities, time and treasure. It’s like saying, “I will give the Lord something of myself, but I will reserve most of it, the best of me for my secular pursuits, my career, and my worldly goals.” The question for all of us to consider today, especially at the beginning of this New Year is, “What gifts do I bring when I come to Jesus Christ?” As for Maggi, upon opening their bags, they offered to the King,  extremely precious gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh. See those as symbols of what is best in you. What is best in you? Mention it! Name your talents! Have you offered it to the Lord or are you reluctant or reserving them for your worldly goals and pursuits? Are you using a measuring cup to measure your gifts a little bit to Christ? The Magi offered the best in them. Give to the Lord the best in you!

Lastly, the Gospel says that having been warned in a dream not to return to Herod, they departed to their country by another way. This is so important! Take these words to the bank: No one encounters Jesus  and goes back the way they came. Something must give! The entire purpose of gazing at the star, discerning God’s will, mustering the courage to act and move, confronting the physical and spiritual oppositions, and giving the best of ourselves to God is TRANSFORMATION. If you go through this process, and then go back home the same way you came, what’s the point? Archbishop Fulton Sheen said that the Lord did not come to make us nice people; he came to make us new creations. If we follow this path, I tell you, we will go back home another way. We will radically be transformed to the glory of the Lord. 

Veni Sancte Spiritus!