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Solemnity of the Epiphany of the Lord
1saiah 60:1-6
Psalm 72:1-2, 7-8, 10-11, 12-13
Ephesians 3:2-3A, 5-6
Matthew 2:1-12
Summary
Isaiah proclaims the Jews’ deliverance from exile as the Lord’s glorious light upon
them and to the nations who in praise shall bear gifts of gold and frankincense. The
Psalmist sings the light shall be adored by nations for he shall govern with justice
for the poor, the afflicted, and the lowly. Paul passes on to the Ephesians a revela-
tion of mystery; the gentile nations will not only see the light but also be coheirs
and copartners in the promise of Christ Jesus through the gospel. Matthew affirms
that baby Jesus is the Christ, the light of all the nations.
Reflection
As a child, singing “We Three Kings of Orient Are” filled me with joy, especially
the chorus:
O Star of wonder, Star of night,
Star with royal beauty bright,
Westward leading, still proceeding,
Guide us to thy Perfect Light.”
And so I am grateful for the life of the Rev. John Henry Hopkins, who wrote the
music and lyrics for New York’s General Theological Seminary as part of its 1857
Christmas pageant.
I am grateful in turn for the lives of the writers of
Isaiah, the Psalm, Ephesians, and Matthew, from
whom Hopkins drew inspiration. Like them, Hop-
kins was moved by “the Holy Spirit … the Lord, the
Giver of life.” (Nicene Creed.)
I am grateful too for the lives of the magi given by
the Holy Spirit. Though not kings, their wisdom was
kingly because it was grounded in spiritual discern-
ment. They journeyed, not as Jews chosen, but as
gentiles sensing the divine at work in the rising star of
the newborn king of the Jews. Years before Paul rec-