Father Koch: We lose Epiphany when we look for a star
January 3, 2025 at 2:59 p.m.
Gospel Reflection for Sunday, January 5, 2025, The Epiphany of the Lord
While many have reduced the celebration of the Epiphany to a debate about the Star of Bethlehem, St. Matthew, uses the account of the visit of the Magi to the Child Jesus to instruct us as to the very nature of Jesus. The entire Christmas Season is about the miracle of the Incarnation – that the Second Person of the Trinity was born as a human being. It is such a powerful truth that we cannot merely celebrate it in one day, so instead the great feast extends from Christmas to the Epiphany, and the season yet another week until the Baptism of the Lord.
The totality of the Christmas mystery begins long before the dream of Joseph that he should take Mary his wife, or the appearance of the Angel Gabriel to the young virgin, Mary, announcing to her the intention of God the Father to have her give birth to his Son. God planned, as we hear, from the very beginning of time, to become incarnate among his people, to share in our humanity so as to elevate us to share the divinity of his divinity.
The magi were likely Zoroastrian wisemen who read the sacred texts of other ancient peoples, including those of the Jews, and searched the skies for omens and portents so as to foresee the future. This was an exacting study, one that they prepared long for, making them important members of the religious and social worlds.
Whatever they saw in the sky – Matthew calls it a new star – they connected it to the people of Judea. While in times past their ancestors despised the religious practices of the Jews and tried at one point to destroy their culture, heritage, and worship, the Greco-Roman hegemony brought them together. Their own religious practices, though not as ancient as the Jews, was nonetheless well-established and provided a deep sense of mystery, relying on the signs of nature to provide the intent of what they understood to be a god to communicate with his people.
The heavens told them that something of universal significance and truth had happened among the Jewish people. God was ushering in a new period of history, even making himself present to the world. Unlike most of the religions of the Greco-Roman world who held to many forms of gods manifest in various ways, the Zoroastrians did not have an extensive pantheon. Therefore, for them, this is a moment of unique significance.
They gathered together gifts of gold – offered to a king; frankincense – offered to a god; and myrrh – an ointment for the body of the deceased, and traveled about 1,000 miles through the desert, in order to encounter this new born king of the Jews.
They first had to come to Jerusalem, the seat of the client kingdom of Judea and the site of the Temple. They likely drew the attention of many upon their arrival, and were granted audience of King Herod, by now an old man and near the end of his life. Here was a man who had already eliminated many rivals, including the assassinations of three of his sons, in order to protect his claim to the throne. News of a newborn king, not of his lineage, only stoked his anger and jealousy, leading him to plant deception with the magi so as to eliminate any rival.
Already we can see in this account a summary of the scriptures and the history of salvation. The magi seek to adore the presence of God and pay homage to a new king. Herod seeks his own glory, and could care less about the presence of God in his life or among his people.
The magi were successful on their quest, and they foiled Herod’s attempt to destroy the messiah.
Herod could have lived in hope – these strangers did – those who some 30 years later will follow the path of this messiah did, but Herod chose instead the path of resistance, fear, and destruction, as did the Pharisees, Sadducees, Romans, and many others for whom the messiah was more a threat than a promise.
Our world chooses to ignore the Child in the manger, the Lord present in the Eucharist, the coming of the Kingdom of God.
God is with us – Emmanuel – made manifest in our midst – epiphany.
Let us continue to seek the Lord to whom the star, indeed all of creation points, and follow him.
Father Garry Koch is pastor of St. Benedict Parish, Holmdel.
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Gospel Reflection for Sunday, January 5, 2025, The Epiphany of the Lord
While many have reduced the celebration of the Epiphany to a debate about the Star of Bethlehem, St. Matthew, uses the account of the visit of the Magi to the Child Jesus to instruct us as to the very nature of Jesus. The entire Christmas Season is about the miracle of the Incarnation – that the Second Person of the Trinity was born as a human being. It is such a powerful truth that we cannot merely celebrate it in one day, so instead the great feast extends from Christmas to the Epiphany, and the season yet another week until the Baptism of the Lord.
The totality of the Christmas mystery begins long before the dream of Joseph that he should take Mary his wife, or the appearance of the Angel Gabriel to the young virgin, Mary, announcing to her the intention of God the Father to have her give birth to his Son. God planned, as we hear, from the very beginning of time, to become incarnate among his people, to share in our humanity so as to elevate us to share the divinity of his divinity.
The magi were likely Zoroastrian wisemen who read the sacred texts of other ancient peoples, including those of the Jews, and searched the skies for omens and portents so as to foresee the future. This was an exacting study, one that they prepared long for, making them important members of the religious and social worlds.
Whatever they saw in the sky – Matthew calls it a new star – they connected it to the people of Judea. While in times past their ancestors despised the religious practices of the Jews and tried at one point to destroy their culture, heritage, and worship, the Greco-Roman hegemony brought them together. Their own religious practices, though not as ancient as the Jews, was nonetheless well-established and provided a deep sense of mystery, relying on the signs of nature to provide the intent of what they understood to be a god to communicate with his people.
The heavens told them that something of universal significance and truth had happened among the Jewish people. God was ushering in a new period of history, even making himself present to the world. Unlike most of the religions of the Greco-Roman world who held to many forms of gods manifest in various ways, the Zoroastrians did not have an extensive pantheon. Therefore, for them, this is a moment of unique significance.
They gathered together gifts of gold – offered to a king; frankincense – offered to a god; and myrrh – an ointment for the body of the deceased, and traveled about 1,000 miles through the desert, in order to encounter this new born king of the Jews.
They first had to come to Jerusalem, the seat of the client kingdom of Judea and the site of the Temple. They likely drew the attention of many upon their arrival, and were granted audience of King Herod, by now an old man and near the end of his life. Here was a man who had already eliminated many rivals, including the assassinations of three of his sons, in order to protect his claim to the throne. News of a newborn king, not of his lineage, only stoked his anger and jealousy, leading him to plant deception with the magi so as to eliminate any rival.
Already we can see in this account a summary of the scriptures and the history of salvation. The magi seek to adore the presence of God and pay homage to a new king. Herod seeks his own glory, and could care less about the presence of God in his life or among his people.
The magi were successful on their quest, and they foiled Herod’s attempt to destroy the messiah.
Herod could have lived in hope – these strangers did – those who some 30 years later will follow the path of this messiah did, but Herod chose instead the path of resistance, fear, and destruction, as did the Pharisees, Sadducees, Romans, and many others for whom the messiah was more a threat than a promise.
Our world chooses to ignore the Child in the manger, the Lord present in the Eucharist, the coming of the Kingdom of God.
God is with us – Emmanuel – made manifest in our midst – epiphany.
Let us continue to seek the Lord to whom the star, indeed all of creation points, and follow him.
Father Garry Koch is pastor of St. Benedict Parish, Holmdel.