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

The Five Priceless Lessons of the Epiphany of the Lord

Rev. Marcel Divine Emeka Okwara, CSsR

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

Church of St. Bridget of Minneapolis, MN

Sunday, Sunday 4, 2026

The feast of the Epiphany celebrates a grand unveiling. God reveals his Son not only to Israel but also to the nations—to the whole world. Yes, after the Baby King's birth on Christmas, he was revealed to Jewish shepherds. But very shortly after, the Magi from the East, foreigners and seekers, were led by a star to the Christ child. Who were they? They were astrologers. This signals that this child is not simply the King of the Jews; he is not merely a tribal leader but God himself, the King and Ruler of the world. This is why, when this child arrived, there was immediate, automatic international interest in him. In the Magi’s journey, worship, and return home, the Epiphany offers enduring lessons for our discipleship. Today, let us reflect on five priceless lessons of the Epiphany.

First lesson: God will reveal Himself to those who seek Him. The Magi were not part of the chosen people; they were outsiders. Yet they were attentive, searching, and willing to follow the signs God placed before them. God meets them where they are and draws them forward. The Epiphany teaches us that God never ignores sincere seeking.  All the people out there who consider themselves seekers, if you are genuinely seeking the truth, seeking God, God will find you. Sometimes faith begins not with certainty, but with longing. If you are willing to seek through prayer, the study of the Scriptures, the study of the Church’s teachings, the writings of the saints, and the openness of heart, God will reveal Himself to you. 

Second lesson: Jesus is meant for every nation. Although we don’t know much about the Magi, Matthew’s Gospel briefly mentions them. Yet they have captured the imagination of Christians for centuries. In most depictions, the Magi are portrayed as representatives of different races, often with one shown as a black African. These depictions may be historically inaccurate, but they are theologically and spiritually accurate. Christ has come for all the nations of the world. St. Paul says, “In Christ there is no Jew or Greek, no slave or free, no male or female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus” (Galatians 3:28). This means that the most basic divisions among us have been overcome in Him. The light of Christ does not shine over Jerusalem alone but over the whole world. The Epiphany reminds us that Christ is not the possession of one people, culture, or nation. He is the Savior of all. If your life is truly hidden in Christ, you will reject every form of exclusion, division, racism, or tribalism. The Church is missionary by nature, called to reflect Christ’s light so that others may find their way to Him through our words, actions, and love.

Third lesson: The meek are truly blessed. In His Sermon on the Mount, Jesus says, “Blessed are the meek, for they shall possess the land” (Matthew 5:5). Which land? In the Book of Psalms, “the land” refers to the Holy Land, the land of Palestine, meaning the kingdom. Where am I going with this? When the Magi arrived in Jerusalem, they expected a king. But what did they find? A child— poor, vulnerable, and dependent. Yet they knelt before Him. Epiphany teaches us that God often comes to us in humility: in the poor, the suffering, and the ordinary moments of life. Only humble hearts can recognize Him there.

Fourth lesson: True worship means offering our best. Following the star, the Magi came to the Baby King. After opening their bags, they offered him extraordinary gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh. These are costly gifts, each rich in meaning. The Magi did not give what was convenient but what was precious and expensive. So, what do we offer Christ? Our time, our talents, our faithfulness, our struggles? True worship is not merely words or rituals; it is the offering of our whole lives.

Fifth lesson: An encounter with Christ changes our direction. After meeting Jesus, the Magi returned home by another route. They could not go back the way they came. The final lesson of the Epiphany is that anyone who truly encounters Christ must change. We cannot meet the Lord and remain the same. His presence transforms our priorities, choices, and paths. Brothers and sisters, the Epiphany is not only about the long-ago revelation of Christ; it is about his ongoing revelation today. If we seek him, welcome his light, approach him with humility, offer him our best, and allow him to change us, Christ will be revealed to the world through us.

May the light of the Epiphany continue to guide our steps, until we, too, reach our true home in God. Amen.