Epiphany

Peter H. Davids

Christmas • Sermon • Submitted 2 years ago

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The kingdom of God and Jesus as its king is not for a single people but for all nations. Thus the magi fulfill the prophecy of Isaiah and anticipate the mystery of which Paul speaks. They also experience the hostility of the powers that be and of the leaders of the people of God, which are equally true of those who carry the good news today.

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Your King will Come

Outline

In the USA there have been political dynasties

One thinks of the Kennedy family and the Bush family, but there are others in which several generations rose to places of political power.

This has also happened in the Catholic Church, but has usually been seen as a perversion unless it was brothers and sisters, perhaps with a parent joining them

However, in our country while there was talk of Camelot around the Kennedy’s the birth of a child is not celebrated as an automatic ticket to power and influence as it has been in, say, England.

Our readings are more English, but with a king who is world emperor

In Matthew Jesus is born as “king of the Jews”

David had reigned over ancient Israel, and, while it had been centuries since members of that family had had power, Jesus was born into the line through Joseph.

Thus in the midst of the darkness of the semi-Jewish Idumean reign, Isaiah’s “Arise! Shine, for your light has come” seems to be fulfilled

But it is a strange light, a celestial body or bodies of some type that is noticed by pagan astrologers.

For some reason they come to worship, to give their allegiance to this infant “king of the Jews”

They do not know that they are fulfilling “Nations shall walk by your light, kings by the radiance of your dawning.” And they do not know that they are a “mystery,” namely “that the Gentiles are coheirs, members of the same body, and copartners in the promise in Christ Jesus through the gospel.”

Herod, ever putting down stasis as he neared death, and Jerusalem, ever fearful of Herod’s reaction, did not see the arrival as “good news,” for it was all wrong - these astrologers were gentiles and they never speak of Israel’s God.

The Jewish leaders knew where it should happen, and that is relayed to the gentile astrologers, but they do not believe it has happened, since none of them go.

The astrologers see the cosmic event again during the two mile journey to Bethlehem and arrive safely. The fact that Joseph is not mentioned as being present could indicate that the presence of a father at a birth was not customary, as one sees in the iconic tradition. They do worship or adore and, as was fitting give gifts appropriate to his rank and light enough to be carried (although, of course, spiritual meanings have been assigned to them). They surely did not know that “gold and frankincense” were mentioned in Isaiah.

That they are warned in a dream and depart another way may be more about direction than about not returning to Herod - if they were at all politically aware they would realize that a king not born in a king’s house was bad news to the reigning king and therefore a danger to them.

What do we make of all this?

First, Matthew, the most Jewish-focused of all the gospels, is aware that Jesus is the universal king. He makes the point here and occasionally in the body of the gospel and finally in the so-called “Great Commission” - all nations. Jesus is not just king of the Jews, not just king of the Western world, but king of all nations (and indeed, of the universe, although it is people with whom we are concerned). Any good news that stops short of this is not the gospel’s good news.

Second, both the powers of this world and the very people of God themselves will resist this. The spreading of the good news to other peoples has been resisted by the people of God and the rulers of this world in all ages. That is not to deny that sometimes those preaching the good news got it mixed up in method and message with the imperialistic interests of the West or even racism. But strip that away and notice that the appropriate activity has been resisted, starting with resistance to the mission of Paul. We must not be part of this.

Third, God’s methods are not out methods. He did not call god-fearing dignitaries to Jerusalem, but astrologers who show no sign of knowing God. He did not have his Son born in a proper palace, but in a “house” - Mary is there without attendants or guards. He did not have his Son grow up as a protected prince, but as a refugee, first in Egypt and then in Galilee (from the Judean perspective). And the death of the innocents foreshadows the death of the Son by means of which he will win his kingdom.

Let us, then, take this to mind and meditate upon it as we bow before the king of kings, who is not just the king of the Church but the king of all nations.

Readings

Catholic Daily Readings 1-2-2022: Epiphany

FIRST READING

Isaiah 60:1–6

1 Arise! Shine, for your light has come,

the glory of the LORD has dawned upon you.

2 Though darkness covers the earth,

and thick clouds, the peoples,

Upon you the LORD will dawn,

and over you his glory will be seen.

3 Nations shall walk by your light,

kings by the radiance of your dawning.

4 Raise your eyes and look about;

they all gather and come to you—

Your sons from afar,

your daughters in the arms of their nurses.

5 Then you shall see and be radiant,

your heart shall throb and overflow.

For the riches of the sea shall be poured out before you,

the wealth of nations shall come to you.

6 Caravans of camels shall cover you,

dromedaries of Midian and Ephah;

All from Sheba shall come

bearing gold and frankincense,

and heralding the praises of the LORD.

Catholic Daily Readings 1-2-2022: Epiphany

RESPONSE

Psalm 72:11

11 May all kings bow before him,

all nations serve him.

PSALM

Psalm 72:1–2, 7–8, 10–11, 12–13

1 Of Solomon.

2 O God, give your judgment to the king;

your justice to the king’s son;

That he may govern your people with justice,

your oppressed with right judgment,

7 That abundance may flourish in his days,

great bounty, till the moon be no more.

8 May he rule from sea to sea,

from the river to the ends of the earth.

10 May the kings of Tarshish and the islands bring tribute,

the kings of Sheba and Seba offer gifts.

11 May all kings bow before him,

all nations serve him.

12 For he rescues the poor when they cry out,

the oppressed who have no one to help.

13 He shows pity to the needy and the poor

and saves the lives of the poor.

Catholic Daily Readings 1-2-2022: Epiphany

SECOND READING

Ephesians 3:2–3a, 5–6

2 if, as I suppose, you have heard of the stewardship of God’s grace that was given to me for your benefit, 3 [namely, that] the mystery was made known to me by revelation, as I have written briefly earlier.

5 which was not made known to human beings in other generations as it has now been revealed to his holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit, 6 that the Gentiles are coheirs, members of the same body, and copartners in the promise in Christ Jesus through the gospel.

Catholic Daily Readings 1-2-2022: Epiphany

GOSPEL ACCLAMATION

Matthew 2:2

2 saying, “Where is the newborn king of the Jews? We saw his star at its rising and have come to do him homage.”

GOSPEL

Matthew 2:1–12

1 When Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea, in the days of King Herod, behold, magi from the east arrived in Jerusalem, 2 saying, “Where is the newborn king of the Jews? We saw his star at its rising and have come to do him homage.” 3 When King Herod heard this, he was greatly troubled, and all Jerusalem with him. 4 Assembling all the chief priests and the scribes of the people, he inquired of them where the Messiah was to be born. 5 They said to him, “In Bethlehem of Judea, for thus it has been written through the prophet:

6 ‘And you, Bethlehem, land of Judah,

are by no means least among the rulers of Judah;

since from you shall come a ruler,

who is to shepherd my people Israel.’ ”

7 Then Herod called the magi secretly and ascertained from them the time of the star’s appearance. 8 He sent them to Bethlehem and said, “Go and search diligently for the child. When you have found him, bring me word, that I too may go and do him homage.” 9 After their audience with the king they set out. And behold, the star that they had seen at its rising preceded them, until it came and stopped over the place where the child was. 10 They were overjoyed at seeing the star, 11 and 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. 12 And having been warned in a dream not to return to Herod, they departed for their country by another way.