GOD REVEALS HIS SALVATION TO THE GENTILES

FEAST OF THE EPIPHANY - Matthew 2:1-12

The Feast of the Epiphany - also called the Feast of the Three Kings - is the Feast of the Gentiles, that is the celebration of God’s offer of salvation to people of all nations. Salvation is not a privilege of the Jewish people, but in Jesus Christ, it is offered to all. And the story of the three Magi - in people’s imagination transformed into kings - shows us the Gentiles in a better light than the political and religious leaders of Jerusalem.

Jesus was born during the days of Herod, who ruled over Palestine as a king subject to Rome. He was a cunning and ruthless man that would not spare any means of keeping his kingship. While ruling over the Jews, he was not a Jew and always kept the Jews under strict obedience. All his subjects lived in fear for their lives. And we can see that picture in his dealings with the Magi. In an effort to get the goodwill of the people, Herod built the Temple and surrounded himself with the religious leaders who did not dare to contradict him. That’s why when King Herod heard what the Magi said, “he was frightened, and all Jerusalem with him” (Mt 2:3)

The coming of the Magi, those foreigners from the East who looked for the Messiah, already brings forward the rejection that will accompany all the public ministry of Jesus. The people of Jerusalem, living around the Temple, had the opportunity to hear the Scriptures and knowing the prophecies, which spoke about the coming of the Messiah. They should know and they should be waiting eagerly for the King sent from heaven, which would set them free. However, all their knowledge hardened their hearts and blunted their minds in such a way that they would not even question themselves or accept to be questioned by others. They were so sure of their knowledge of God and of God’s promises that they were not ready for God’s surprises. That is the big difference with the Magi: they accepted to be surprised and their surprise led them to search for the meaning of what surprised them. They ready to sacrifice many things and to make an effort to find the one who surprised them. They had an open heart and open mind, and so they could be touched by God. 

Reading the Acts of the Apostles, we can find many times a similar attitude. Most of the Jews in the Synagogues are not touched by Paul’s preaching and they reject the name of Jesus as a threat to the worship of the true God. On the other hand, the Gentiles welcome the Gospel with Joy and accept Jesus as their Lord and Saviour.

The feast of the Epiphany is a joyful occasion for all of us to give thanks and praise to God, because he calls us to salvation and it is an occasion to offer ourselves to the Lord, recognising that he is the Christ, the Son of the living God.