“Magi from the east arrived in Jerusalem…”

What is the Epiphany? It is a holy day set apart every year to “commemorate the coming of the three wise men from the East, guided by a miraculous star which appeared to them, and directed them to Bethlehem, where they found Christ in the stable.” [1]  When they had found Jesus they fell down and adored Him. “Its very name, which signifies Manifestation, implies that it celebrates the apparition of God to his creatures.” [2]
 
“The Epiphany is the manifestation of Jesus as Messiah of Israel, Son of God and Savior of the world. The great feast of Epiphany celebrates the adoration of Jesus by the wise men (magi) from the East, together with his baptism in the Jordan and the wedding feast at Cana in Galilee. In the magi, representatives of the neighboring pagan religions, the Gospel sees the first-fruits of the nations, who welcome the good news of salvation through the Incarnation.” [3]

What is the significance of the adoration of Jesus by the wise men, the Baptism of Jesus in the Jordan, and the wedding feast at Cana? At all of these events the manifestation of Jesus Christ takes place. Through these events it is clear that He is the anointed one, the Son of God. The word “Christ” means “anointed one”. Jesus is anointed by the Holy Spirit. In the Greek Church the feast of the Epiphany is called the “Theophany”, which means the appearance of God. “In the calendar of pagan Rome, the Sixth of January was devoted to the celebration of a triple triumph of Augustus, the founder of the Roman Empire.” [4] In the Christian Calendar, the Sixth of January is devoted to the triple triumph of Jesus Christ. “In the one same Epiphany three manifestations of Jesus’ glory: the mystery of the Magi coming from the East, under the guidance of a star, and adoring the Infant of Bethlehem as the divine King; the mystery of the Baptism of Christ, who, whilst standing in the waters of the Jordan, was proclaimed by the Eternal Father as Son of God; and thirdly, the mystery of the divine power of this same Jesus, when he changed the water into wine at the marriage-feast of Cana.”[5] These three events summed up in one word, Epiphany, occur at the beginning of the liturgical year and are the divine hat trick or triple play, to assure mankind that truly this is the Son of God.
 
How did God appear in at these events? At the Baptism of Jesus, the Blessed Trinity is manifested as the voice of God is heard, the Holy Spirit, in the form of a dove appears and Our Lord, the second person of the Blessed Trinity, is baptized by St. John the Baptist. At the Wedding at Cana, Our Lady ushers in the appearance of the miraculous power of Our Lord with the words, “Do whatever he tells you.” [6] At the Nativity, God appears in the flesh in the town of Bethlehem. Prior to the year 376AD, many Churches outside of Rome, celebrated the Nativity (Christmas) and the Epiphany on the same date. It is at the Nativity (Christmas) that Jesus Christ “was incarnate of the Virgin Mary, and became man” as we profess in the Creed. It makes sense that these feasts would be celebrated either on the same date as in days past, or as it is now, where the Epiphany is celebrated within the Christmas season.

What are some other similarities between the feast of the Nativity and the Epiphany? At the Nativity we see the stark reality of the humanity of Jesus. Mary and Joseph cannot find room for their son to be born. He is cast out among the animals in the cold, dark, and silent night. At the Epiphany we see the manifestation of His divinity in that wise men from the east come to adore Him and the temporal ruler of the time, Herod, is concerned and threatened by the importance of this new born king. “At Christmas it was a few Shepherds that were invited by the Angels to go and recognize the Word made Flesh; but now, at the Epiphany, the voice of God himself calls the whole world to adore this Jesus, and hear him.” [7]

What does the Epiphany tells us about God’s love for man? It shows the rejection of Jesus by Israel and the acceptance of Jesus by the Gentiles. While the Jewish people were asleep, scared, ignorant, and not ready, the Magi, representing the Gentiles were eager, ready, and willing to embrace the Christ. They were able to see that God was living among them! The Epiphany expresses the deep love of God to unite with His people. Jesus Christ the bridegroom marries the Church, His bride. The Epiphany is the day in which we celebrate this love between Jesus Christ and His Church. “This day is the Church united to the heavenly Spouse, for Christ, in the Jordan, washes away her sins; the Magi run to the royal Nuptials with their gifts: and the guests of the Feast are gladdened by the water changed into wine.” [8] Pope Innocent III said that this great feast is one of consummation, confirmation, and declaration. It is consummated in the adoration of the Magi, confirmed in the Baptism in the Jordan, and declared in the miracle of the water changed into wine. Consummation is the act of bringing something to a conclusion. The Magi journey has come to a conclusion, they are satisfied with the King they have found and show their satisfaction through adoration. We are confirmed, made strong, connecting to the Life of Christ, through Baptism. Baptism is made possible because Our Lord has first purified the waters of baptism through His own baptism. Baptismal grace is made complete in the Sacrament of Confirmation. This consummation and confirmation is not just between us and Christ it is to be made know. A lover declares His love before all. Jesus declares His love for us at a feast in the midst of many. His miracle is cause for great joy as the declaration of His love is manifested before all.
 
Who were these Three Wise Men? First, we do not know the exact number of men who came. We assume it was three because Jesus received three gifts. However, some early Church Fathers believed it could have been more. The point is that there were men who came a great distance to see a new king. The most common belief held, is that there were three Magi, and their names were Caspar, Melchior, and Balthazar. [9]
 
Also, the Magi were not kings in the modern sense of the word. The early Church Fathers held the assumption that the Magi were kings. [10] They might have been minor kings or of royalty. They were indeed wealthy to be able to afford such a long travel, and to be able to give Jesus fine gifts. Most believe they might have been of the priestly caste. Their religion was probably of Zoroaster, which dealt with the study of the stars and interpretation of dreams. [11] They sought truth and their quest for truth led them to an understanding of God and the acceptance of the divinity of the Christ child.
 
Where did they come from? We are not sure exactly where they originated. The term “east” in the scripture means east of Palestine. Given their background it is thought they had come from the Parthian Empire somewhere in Media, Persia, Assyria, and/or Babylonia. [12] They probably crossed the Syrian Desert, lying between the Euphrates and Syria. Here is a picture of a possible route they may have taken. Their exact route we do not know.
 

 
What made them come all the way to Bethlehem in search of Jesus? God had inspired their souls to allow them to see the star, which appeared in their land [13]
 
“It was in order to seek this King that they had set off on their journey.  Deep within themselves they felt prompted to go in search of the true justice that can only come from God, and they wanted to serve this King, to fall prostrate at his feet and so play their part in the renewal of the world. They were among those ‘who hunger and thirst for justice’ [14]. This hunger and thirst had spurred them on in their pilgrimage - they had become pilgrims in search of the justice that they expected from God, intending to devote themselves to its service. [15]
 
It was a common belief in ancient times that a new star appearing represented the time of a ruler’s birth. Matthew also draws parallels from the Old Testament story of Balaam, who had prophesied that “A star shall advance from Jacob” [16], however, it is good to point out the star in that verse meant not an astral phenomenon but the king himself. [17]
 
What did they expect to find? They were looking for a king, but not just any king. They were searching for the King of the Jews [18] “They were sure that God existed and that he was a just and gentle God. And perhaps they also knew of the great prophecies of Israel foretelling a King who would be intimately united with God, a King who would restore order to the world, acting for God and in his Name.” [19]
 
Why did Herod fear this new king? Herod was scared because if there was a new king then he would have to relinquish his power. He was a cruel and jealous king, so when he had heard of a newborn king, this ultimately meant his replacement, and possibly punishment for his crimes. Jerusalem feared, as well. Many were linked to Herod, and lived the same vices as he did.
 
Why did the Magi leave a different way? Just as an angel spoke to St. Joseph in a dream and told him to flee Palestine, so too were the Magi were told in a dream to return by another route, thus avoiding Herod. Once they had seen God made flesh they new they must be obedient to the dream. 

How can we be more obedient to God? For us, once we witness Christ in the Church we should avoid our old ways, the ways that lead us to sin. St. Gregory the Great said, “Our fatherland is paradise, heaven. We have departed from it by pride, disobedience, abuse of the senses; therefore it is needed that we return to it by obedience, contempt of the world, and by taming the desires of the flesh.” [20]
 
Let us be like the Magi, willing to cross any distance that separates us from our Lord, and when we do reach him we fall to our knees in adoration for Him.

[1] The Church’s Year pg. 64
[2] Abbot Gueranger, O.S.B., The Liturgical Year; Christmas – Book II
[3] Catechism of the Catholic Church - 528
[4] Abbot Gueranger, O.S.B., The Liturgical Year; Christmas – Book II
[5] Ibid.
[6] John 2:5
[7] Abbot Gueranger, O.S.B., The Liturgical Year; Christmas – Book II
[8] Antiphon of Lauds
[9] http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/09527a.htm
[10] http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/09527a.htm
[11] http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/09527a.htm
[12] http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/09527a.htm
[13] The Church’s Year pg. 66
[14] Matthew 5: 6
[15] Pope Benedict XVI Apostolic Journey to Cologne on the occasion of the XX World Youth Day
[16] Numbers 24, 17
[17] New American Bible footnotes pg. 1063
[18] Matthew 2:2
[19] Pope Benedict XVI Apostolic Journey to Cologne on the occasion of the XX World Youth Day
[20] The Church’s Year pg. 68