The Epiphany of the Lord, Year C

5 January 2025

Gospel

After Jesus had been born at Bethlehem in Judaea during the reign of King Herod, some wise men came to Jerusalem from the east. ‘Where is the infant king of the Jews?’ they asked. ‘We saw his star as it rose and have come to do him homage.’ When King Herod heard this he was perturbed, and so was the whole of Jerusalem. He called together all the chief priests and the scribes of the people, and enquired of them where the Christ was to be born. ‘At Bethlehem in Judaea,’ they told him ‘for this is what the prophet wrote:

And you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah,
you are by no means least among the leaders of Judah,
for out of you will come a leader
who will shepherd my people Israel.’

Then Herod summoned the wise men to see him privately. He asked them the exact date on which the star had appeared, and sent them on to Bethlehem. ‘Go and find out all about the child,’ he said ‘and when you have found him, let me know, so that I too may go and do him homage.’ Having listened to what the king had to say, they set out. And there in front of them was the star they had seen rising; it went forward, and halted over the place where the child was. The sight of the star filled them with delight, and going into the house they saw the child with his mother Mary, and falling to their knees they did him homage. Then, opening their treasures, they offered him gifts of gold and frankincense and myrrh. But they were warned in a dream not to go back to Herod, and returned to their own country by a different way.

(Matthew 2:1–12)

Did you know?

Points of interest and Catholic lore

The word ‘epiphany’ comes from the Greek word epiphaneia, meaning ‘manifestation’ or ‘revelation’. In the Gospel of Matthew, this text reveals the first public manifestation of Jesus.
The ‘wise men’ were probably magi or astrologers from Persia, and they represent all who seek God with a sincere heart.
Matthew’s community mostly comprises Jewish Christians who are struggling to come to terms with the Gospel's expansion into the Gentile world. In this text, Matthew is trying to reassure his community that all people who recognise and honour the Christ are welcomed as the new people of God.
You will notice that the text simply says ‘some wise men’; there is no mention of a number. Over time, these magi have become ‘three’ (based on the three gifts), been transformed into ‘kings’ and have even been given names!
You will also notice that Matthew describes how Jesus was born in a house, presumably at home in Joseph’s house.

Exploring the Word

The key to understanding this highly symbolic gospel lies in understanding how the various characters responded to Jesus. The wise men were not of the house of Israel; they were foreigners from the east. And yet, they were the ones who recognised the signs and embarked on a journey to find the Newborn king and worship him. The very people who should have known better had the opposite response. Herod, the Jewish political leader, and the chief priests and scribes, the religious leaders and interpreters of Scripture, did not see what was there before them—and when they did come to understand, they sought only to harm Jesus. This is the first hint of the harm that would ultimately come to Jesus from the same characters much later in his life. They were not open to the revelation of God in this child.

Imagine how disappointed the wise men might have felt when, at the end of their search, they found a poor child born in a simple house instead of a mighty king. However, they were open to the revelation of God and bowed down before him. Their expensive gifts are highly symbolic: gold was presented to kings, frankincense was offered to God and myrrh was used in anointing for burial. In offering these gifts, the wise men referred to the kingship of Jesus, his divinity and his salvific death.

In what ways do you recognise the divine in the ordinary?
How long have you been on your journey, and how much progress have you made?

Making connections

Opportunities for group discussion and personal prayer

What is leading you on your journey towards Jesus?
What gifts do you bring to Jesus?
Spend time this week reflecting on the new road you have taken. How has it changed the way you act or think? In what ways do you encounter the Christ child in your life?
‘The sight of the star filled them with delight.’ Share your own stories of when you experienced pure delight in your life.
Use today’s collect as your prayer this week:
May the splendor of your majesty, O Lord, we pray,
shed its light upon our hearts,
that we may pass through the shadows of this world
and reach the brightness of our eternal home.

Sharing the tradition

The feast of the Epiphany has been celebrated since the fourth century—and it has always been an important feast, especially in the Eastern Rites. One significant problem that the early Church faced was the realisation that even no-Jewish people were invited to have faith in Jesus as Lord. Even though his roots were in Judaism, Jesus is significant to all people who seek the truth.

You could provide some background information about Matthew’s predominantly Jewish community and its struggle with admitting Gentiles.
You could read the passages in Acts that address this controversy and its resolution (Acts 10–11, 15).
You could discuss some groups in the present day who may feel that the Church has alienated them or not welcomed them adequately. Some sensitivity may be needed.

Symbols and images

The wise men were warned not to return the same way. So, instead of backtracking their path, the wise men took a new road in life after their encounter with the Christ child. How does this imagery speak to you in terms of your own journey?

Living the word

What ministries of welcome does your parish provide? How might the group become involved?
It may be appropriate to pray today at the crib. You could process there singing Adeste Fideles (GA 287). Pray that all people remain open to the revelation of God in the world and in their lives. Pray for each other. Conclude with the blessing in the RCIA at §97G.