Gospel Reflection Jan 5 – Father Black
Sunday, January 5
The Epiphany of the Lord
Matthew 2: 1-12
Gospel:
When Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea,
in the days of King Herod,
behold, magi from the east arrived in Jerusalem, saying,
“Where is the newborn king of the Jews?
We saw his star at its rising
and have come to do him homage.”
When King Herod heard this,
he was greatly troubled,
and all Jerusalem with him.
Assembling all the chief priests and the scribes of the people,
he inquired of them where the Christ was to be born.
They said to him, “In Bethlehem of Judea,
for thus it has been written through the prophet:
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.”
Then Herod called the magi secretly
and ascertained from them the time of the star’s appearance.
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.”
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.
They were overjoyed at seeing the star,
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.
And having been warned in a dream not to return to Herod,
they departed for their country by another way.
Gospel Reflection:
Gold, frankincense and myrrh. Most of us would know quickly that these are the gifts that were brought to the baby Jesus by the Magi. Certainly we would also know right away that while these are precious materials by earthly standards, neither Jesus nor Mary and Joseph would have any use for such items at this point in their lives. They had much travel in their near future.
Since this was part of God’s plan, there must be a deeper meaning to these gifts. Matthew’s gospel tells us that the Magi prostrated themselves and did him homage. Most likely, these gifts, like the Magi, would have been placed on the ground. This gesture reflects a posturing, if you will, of these earthly treasures as well as the Magi themselves. Placed below the feet of Jesus, the Newborn King is properly placed above the best that the world has to offer and above the Magi who offered them.
The gift of Jesus to the world would forever be more precious than anything of that world.
Father James Black