SOLEMNITY OF THE EPIPHANY OF THE LORD - C - 2022
INTRODUCTION
·
The
liturgy of this first Sunday of the new
year 2022 presents the narration of the
Magi, the wise men who came from the East to adore the new born King of the
Jews.
·
The
intrigues that will surround the life of Jesus, the Son of God made man,
already began.
·
There
is a sort of irony in this account:
o
Pagan
men, but also wise men, know how to read the signs that creation offers, they
discover the King of the Jews.
o
His
people, the king and the scribes, who supposedly knew the Scriptures, reject
him. Because they know the Scriptures, they fear that this king will come to
upset their security, the best way to deal with him is to eliminate him.
o
Does
anything similar happen in our life?
FIRST READING – Is 60:1-6
«
This
reading is taken from the book of the Third Isaiah. Everything in it breathes
optimism, joy, light.
«
The
dominant theme is the light, the glory of God is the light that illumines the
city of Jerusalem.
«
The
earth is covered with darkness, but upon you will shine the glory of the Lord.
«
This
light as a lighthouse will lead the nations toward you.
«
Look
with joy, with joy they come from all the nations, the foreigners but most of
all your children who were scattered, those who left in tears now they come
back singing with joy.
«
We
can understand this joy, many among us, almost all of us, live far from our
homeland, if one day the return is made possible, we will experience this same
overwhelming joy, and over all those who stayed in the country will be filled
with joy.
«
They
will bring to you the riches of the nations, caravans of camels will come
bringing gold, frankincense, and myrrh, proclaiming the praises of God.
RESPONSORIAL PSALM Ps 72
R. Lord, every nation on earth will adore you.
O God, with your judgment endow the king,
and with your justice, the king’s son;
He shall govern your people with justice
and your afflicted ones with judgment.
R. Lord, every nation on earth will adore you.
Justice shall flower in his days,
and profound peace, till the moon be no more.
May he rule from sea to sea,
and from the River to the ends of the earth.
R. Lord, every nation on earth will adore you.
The kings of Tarshish and the Isles shall offer gifts;
the kings of Arabia and Seba shall bring tribute.
All kings shall pay him homage,
all nations shall serve him.
R. Lord, every nation on earth will adore you.
For he shall rescue the poor when he cries out,
and the afflicted when he has no one to help him.
He shall have pity for the lowly and the poor;
the lives of the poor he shall save.
R. Lord, every nation on earth will adore you.
This
psalm is a prayer for a King or for the heir to the Crown.
We
find in it the theme of justice which we ask for the king, so that he will be
able to govern with equity.
We
have again the theme of the kings from foreign lands coming bringing their
gifts to the king.
This
king in his justice will do good to the poor and marginalized, in this he will
be like God whose justice is manifested as compassion and mercy.
Letter to the Ephesians
Ø
This
letter is one of the letters called “letters from the captivity”, because they
mention the prison, other letters from this group are Philippians, Colossians,
and Philemon
Ø
About
the date of its composition the authors have different opinions. Those who
consider that this letter had been written by Paul have a date prior to 67 when
Paul died.
Ø
However
those who think that the letter was written by a disciple of Paul have a later date,
around the 80’s.
Ø
The
letter has many themes that are like those in the letter to the Colossians.
Ø
We
perceive in this letter a great concern for doctrine and theology.
Ø
In
the first part (cc. 1-3) the church is considered prepared by God from
eternity, being revealed progressively until the Incarnation.
EPHESIANS 3:2-3ª.5-6
Ø
Paul
(or the author) says that the mystery hidden in God has been revealed to him,
and he in turn makes it known, he announces it in his preaching.
Ø
This
hidden mystery has been revealed to the apostles by the Spirit.
Ø The mystery is
o
Through
the Good News, the Gospel, the gentiles partake in the inheritance and the
promises of Christ Jesus.
o
And
are members of the same body.
GOSPEL- Matthew 2:1-12
ü
Chapters
1 and 2 from Matthew and also from Luke are called “the Gospel of the Infancy or the infancy narratives”
ü
These
two chapters are according to an author, as the synthesis of the life of Jesus,
and of the theology of the evangelist.
ü
The
verses which we will read this Sunday offer to us the synthesis of the theology
of Matthew: there is a conflict between two royalties, Herod, and Jesus,
between evil and good, between wealth and poverty.
ü
Who is Herod? He
is from Idumea, he is a bloodthirsty and ambitious man.
ü
In
this Gospel we discover several scenes:
o
In
the first one the Magi begin their journey following the star and arrive to
Jerusalem. They are sure that someone in the city will guide them to the King
they are seeking.
o
In
the second scene the main characters are Herod, the high priests, and the
scribes. They know because they investigated the Scriptures, that the Messiah
will come from Bethlehem.
o
In
the third scene Herod speaks to the Magi, he questions them about the date in which
the star appeared, and sends them to Bethlehem, and he asks them to let him
know where is the new born king, so that he will be able to go and worship
him.
o
In
the fourth scene the Magi resume their journey and see again the star, that was
hidden when they arrived at Jerusalem.
o
In
the fifth scene the Magi arrive at the place and find the mother with the child,
and they are filled with joy. They offer him his gifts of gold, frankincense,
and myrrh. Afterwards they go back
through another way.
ü
There
are many contrasts; if we would make a movie the scenes of Herod would be dark,
on the contrary those of the Magi would be full of color and light.
o
The
Magi do not know the prophecies, but they know how to read the message of the
stars and they seek with an open heart not conditioned by ambition or by
power.
o
Herod
and the priests know the prophecies thus they fear, because they believe that
this King will take away their power, their comfortable way of life. Herod is
not sincere in his heart.
o
The Magi find their God without knowing him. The people of Jerusalem do not find
him despite knowing theoreticaly the Scriptures.
