A King to Behold: Scott Hahn Reflects on the Feast of the Epiphany
An
“epiphany” is an appearance. In today’s readings, with their rising
stars, splendorous lights, and mysteries revealed, the face of the child
born on Christmas day appears.
Herod,
in today’s Gospel, asks the chief priests and scribes where the Messiah
is to be born. The answer Matthew puts on their lips says much more,
combining two strands of Old Testament promise—one revealing the Messiah
to be from the line of David (see 2 Samuel 2:5),
the other predicting “a ruler of Israel” who will “shepherd his flock”
and whose “greatness shall reach to the ends of the earth” (see Micah 5:1–3).
Those
promises of Israel’s king ruling the nations resound also in today’s
Psalm. The psalm celebrates David’s son, Solomon. His kingdom, we sing,
will stretch “to the ends of the earth,” and the world’s kings will pay
Him homage. That’s the scene too in today’s First Reading, as nations
stream from the East, bearing “gold and frankincense” for Israel’s king.
The
Magi’s pilgrimage in today’s Gospel marks the fulfillment of God’s
promises. The Magi, probably Persian astrologers, are following the star
that Balaam predicted would rise along with the ruler’s staff over the
house of Jacob (see Numbers 24:17).
Laden with gold and spices, their journey evokes those made to Solomon by the Queen of Sheba and the “kings of the earth” (see 1 Kings 10:2, 25; 2 Chronicles 9:24). Interestingly, the only other places where frankincense and myrrh are mentioned together are in songs about Solomon (see Song of Songs 3:6, 4:6, 14).
One greater than Solomon is here (see Luke 11:31). He has come to reveal that all peoples are “co-heirs” of the royal family of Israel, as today’s Epistle teaches.
His
manifestation forces us to choose: Will we follow the signs that lead
to Him as the wise Magi did? Or will we be like those priests and the
scribes who let God’s words of promise become dead letters on an ancient
page?
Yours in Christ,
Scott Hahn, PhD
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