Epiphany of Jesus and the prayer to the Magi

Upon entering the house they saw the boy with Mary his mother. They bowed down and paid him homage. Then they opened their treasures and offered him gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh. Matthew 2:11

"Epiphany" means manifestation. And the Epiphany of the Lord is the manifestation of Jesus not only for these three Magi of the East, but it is also a symbolic but real manifestation of Christ for the whole world. These Magi, traveling from a foreign and non-Jewish nation, reveal that Jesus came for all people and everyone is called to worship him.

These Magi were "wise men" who studied the stars and were aware of the Jewish belief that a Messiah was coming. They would have been shed in much of the wisdom of the day and would have been intrigued by the Jewish faith in the Messiah.

God used what they knew to call them to worship Christ. He used a star. They understood the stars and when they saw this new and unique star above Bethlehem they understood that something special was going on. So the first lesson we take from this for our own lives is that God will use what is familiar to us to call ourselves. Look for the "star" that God is using to call you. It is closer than you think.

A second thing to note is that the Magi fell prostrate before the Christ Child. They gave up their lives before Him in complete surrender and worship. They give us the perfect example. If these astrologers from a foreign land could come and worship Christ so profoundly, we must do the same. Maybe you could try literally lying prostrate in prayer today, in imitation of the Magi, or at least do it in your heart through prayer. Worship him with a complete surrender of your life.

Finally, the Magi bring gold, frankincense and myrrh. These three gifts, presented to our Lord, show that they recognized this Child as the Divine King who would die to save us from sin. Gold is for a king, incense is a burnt offering to God and myrrh is used for those who die. Therefore, their worship is rooted in the truths about who this Child is. If we want to worship Christ properly, we must also honor him in this threefold way.

Reflect today on these Magi and consider them as a symbol of what you are called to do. You are called from the foreign place of this world to seek the Messiah. What is God using to call you to Himself? When you discover him, do not hesitate to recognize the whole truth of who he is, lying prostrate before him in complete and humble submission.

Lord, I love you and I love you. I put my life before you and I give up. You are my Divine King and Savior. My life is yours. (Pray three times and then prostrate before the Lord) Jesus, I trust in You.