In the run up to Christmas, it is often the case that the moment of Epiphany is forgotten in the minds of Christians. Epiphany comes from the Greek word: Ἐπιφάνεια (Epiphaneia), which means the appearance of manifestation, or unveiling. Theologically, this basic understanding refers to the revelation or appearance of God to man. Both at the time of His coming into the world and at His return. Thus, epiphany is a way to recall the fundamental appreciation of the Godhead in Christianity, namely God in His love who took the initiative to approach humanity, so that His only Son was born into the world and became human, also known as the incarnation process.
However, man needs sensitivity and humility in sensing and responding to His revelation. Matthew's Gospel tells the story with the contrast between the Israelites, represented by Herod and his religious experts, and the wise men.
The Israelites lived in a strong prophetic tradition and faith understanding that they were the chosen people. Matthew shows that the presence of the Messiah was something that the prophets had long proclaimed. It's just that this nation has a tendency to reject His word and find it difficult to submit to God's decree. Including when the Messiah was born into the world. Herod and his court only realized the King had been born when the Magi approached Herod's palace and asked the location of the newborn King. They then looked back at the writings and found the proclamation of the Messiah's birth in Bethlehem.
The Magi were foreigners who were completely unfamiliar with the Jewish tradition of faith and prophethood. The word is translated from the Greek: Magos, which means astrologer or sorcerer. Further research by interpreters confirms their eastern origins or the area around the Median Empire (Persia). Most likely experts or those who lived the religious tradition of Zoroastrianism which is thick with astrological traditions. For them, the motion of the stars is a sign of something that happens in the universe or even human daily life. The stellar anomalies they observed suggested that the New King had been born.
From the perspective of God's omnipotence, the Magi's interpretation of the star's motion can actually be interpreted as a form of "God's declaration". Has He not commonly used various elements in the universe to display His presence? Moses was shown God's presence through the burning bush, the psalmists saw storms and various natural phenomena as God's way of revealing his message. Now he addresses a foreign nation, the Magi, through a bright star that reveals the true Light.
In spite of their limitations, the Magi tried to recognize the signs, following the star. Eventually, they encountered the King and presented Jesus with a gift like a delegation from a country presenting a gift to a newly ordained king. The foreigners' persistence in meeting the King was a slap in the face to the Jews. God met and revealed Himself to both nations. In fact, the Jews were already at ease with God's clear revelation in the prophecies of the Prophets, but they did not realize it at all. Instead, the wise men, foreigners who had been labeled by the Jews as gentiles because they had no place in salvation, were sensitive to God's revelation.
God's act of revealing himself to the wise men signaled the movement of God's love that embraces all people. It obliterates the fictitious boundaries created by man to assert the superiority of all that exists only in human imagination. The universality of God's salvation is what Matthew's gospel seeks to emphasize, as well as a strong satire on those who reject the revelation of God that is clearly displayed before them.
God is constantly revealing Himself to us today. He shows us the right way in His holy Spirit. Guiding us to stay in His embrace. Unfortunately, we are the ones who are not sensitive to His revelation. Ignoring God's outstretched love that is so clearly displayed through the events of everyday life. This moment of epiphany is a good reminder for us to always respond to God's revelation of love through the right words and actions.
Question: How have you been living the existence of God in your daily life?
