They returned by another way!

Feast of the Epiphany Matthew 2, 1-12 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. Last year I had the opportunity to visit Japan. Japan is a country that is less than 1% Christian. There are 125 million people in Japan and less than 2 million are Christian, and only 500,000 are Catholic. The Redemptorists have a church in Tokyo which is empty most of the year. Maybe 40 or 50 people go there on a typical Sunday. Christmas eve the Church is overflowing. 1000s of people go to Church on Christmas eve. I have friends who are Jewish who always send me a Christmas card and they tell me what they will have for Christmas dinner. I have brothers and sisters who rarely if ever go to church, but they celebrate Christmas, decorating their houses and inviting others for a Christmas dinner. What does it mean for someone who isn’t Christian to celebrate Christmas? What does it mean for people who don’t practice their faith to celebrate Christmas? At times I think, “oh well, Christmas is just like another holiday.” “Like the day of the dead, Valentine’s Day, or other celebrations that had a religious significance but now that meaning has been lost. I get smug and self-righteous and think, “they shouldn’t be celebrating Christmas, they don’t have a right to “my feast.” But that is missing the point. I should be glad that Buddhists fill our Churches on Christmas eve; that Jewish people decorate their homes to celebrate Jesus and that my family members who I think should go to Church more still gather to celebrate the birth of Jesus. Today we celebrate the feast of Epiphany, and Epiphany celebrates more than anything else that Jesus didn’t come into the world for a select group who I judge to be worthy. No! Jesus came into the world for everyone. And everyone means just that: everyone! Margarite Yourcenar an atheist author has written: “I am not Catholic, nor protestant or even Christian, but every year I celebrate Christmas, a celebration filled with meaning… Christmas is a celebration for everyone. We celebrate a birth, new life, a birth like all births should be, the birth of a child who is welcome with love and kindness, a child who brings hope to the world. It is a celebration for the poor… it is celebration for all good will. After the magi found Jesus, they went back by another way. They were no longer guided by a star, but by the light of Jesus: “light from light.” The light had shone before their eyes and illuminated the entire world. When we celebrate the Eucharist or any of the sacraments it is an epiphany; it is a manifestation of Jesus, present under humble signs. At the end of mass we are sent forth but we are sent by another path, the path of conversion. We go in peace to love and serve the Lord. To love and serve the Lord whom we have seen in this eucharist.