The solemnity of the epiphany reminds us of the manifestation Our Lord to the gentiles. If the visit of the shepherds symbolizes of the manifestation of Our Lord to Israel, the visit of Magi to the child lying in the manger symbolizes Lord’s manifestation to gentiles. The heart message of this day is that God reveals Himself to those who searches for Him.
The magi (three Kings/three wise men) represent everyone who seek God. The guiding star symbolizes the Divine Guidance and Providence experienced by every God seeker. The palace of Herod and events there symbolizes the hurdles expected in the life of a God seeker. The dogmatic constitution of Vatican II on the church, Lumen Gentium calls church as the ‘Pilgrim Church’. Every member of the church is the pilgrim seeking God.
The solemnity of epiphany helps us to think of the hurdles that can come on the way of a pilgrim.
1. Structural Hindrance (Herod’s Palace): The majestic and magnificent structure of Herod’s palace blocks the light of the guiding star from the magi. Herod’ palace is a place of luxury, pleasure, power, arrogance, and aristocracy. It can refer to the materialistic culture growing in the world. A materialistic culture and life may confine human beings to huts of pleasure
and luxury preventing access to Divine guidance.
2. Personal Hindrance (Chief Priests and Scholars): They are good researchers of scriptures. They make good research on Savior but did not searcher for God. But the magi not only researched on the manifesting God but also, they really searched for God. A searcher uses intellect as a searching tool, whereas a searcher uses heart as the searching tool in search of God. Once a bible scholar said, “All my life long I did research on Christ, but I did not search for Him”. True God seeking means searching God in the heart just like the magi.
3. Ideological Hindrance (Audience with Herod): Herod is a cooked, cunning, and misguiding person. He tries to misguide the magi in his audience with Him. It can refer to some of the growing philosophies of the modern world like secularism. It is a kind of indifference in religious and spiritual matters. People don’t care of the role of Jesus in their lives.
People do not really feel the need of God in their life because they controlled by material security. An individualistic world encourages individuals to be in their own islands discouraging their needed relationship with God and humanity.
- Do the materials and luxury of this world prevent me from my access to the guiding star/ experience of Divine Providence and guidance?
- Am I only a researcher in my spiritual journey or I really search for the manifesting God?
- Am I misguided by my audience with certain ideologies and experiences of this world in my God seeking? Amen.
Fr. Jerry Joseph Vallomkunnel MCBS