Jan. 4 — Mt 2:1-12
The Solemnity of the Epiphany affords Christians the opportunity to continue our celebration of the Christmas season.
Our modern culture strangely begins to celebrate Christmas just after Halloween and tends to finish Dec. 26. This approach fails to grasp the significance of the mystery of the Incarnation. The mystery of God-with-us is so rich and profound that it demands a whole season to properly pray through its meaning, explore its beauty and celebrate its grace with fitting reverence. The Christmas season ends liturgically with the Baptism of the Lord and includes the spectacular Solemnities of Mary, Mother of God, the Epiphany and the Holy Family.
The evangelist Matthew recounts that when the magi arrive at the stable in Bethlehem, they “saw the child.” There is “seeing” and then, there is “seeing.” The magi saw and believed. They were overjoyed and prostrated themselves. Through these wealthy, wise pilgrims from the East, God proclaims that he has bestowed the most wonderful gift of his Son upon the whole world. God’s offer of salvation was not simply for the Hebrew people but for every human being that will ever be conceived. St. Paul states this most important truth quite clearly in his letter to the Ephesians, “(the mystery) was not made known to people in other generations as it has now been revealed to his holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit: that the Gentiles are coheirs, members of the same body, and copartners in the promise in Christ Jesus through the gospel.” God truly desires that all men and women be saved.
These three seekers also model for us a fitting response the humble entrance of God’s beloved Son into this world. Once again, they are overjoyed, prostrate themselves and do him homage. During the 2025 Christmas season, we are beckoned to imitate them. How can we not go before the Lord, especially at Mass, but also during a quiet visit to the church or while in private prayer before a Nativity scene to experience anew the joy of the Lord and prostrate ourselves before the Lord of heaven and earth lying in a manger? A proper, faith-filled and prayerful pondering of this mystery should fill us with joy and drive us to our knees.
Finally, the magi, after offering a sacrifice of praise, also offer a sacrifice of thanksgiving. “They opened their treasures and offered him gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh.” Again, our culture drills into us the focus on gift-giving among our loved ones. Do we think about giving gifts to Jesus as we celebrate Christmas? This year, take the time to ponder in prayer what gift that Jesus would enjoy receiving from you this year.
Do I need to go to confession? Have I neglected a family member? Do I need to beg for the grace to forgive someone who has hurt me? Do I need to establish a firm plan for daily prayer? Do I need to be more generous in sharing my time, treasure or talent with the church, the young or my neighbor in need? Do I need to establish effective means to root out a particular sin from my life? Do I need to accept God’s tender, personal love for me and learn to trust him with all my heart in the face of a particular trial?
Some of these gifts may be hard to craft, wrap and offer at one party to Jesus. It may take some time and extra prayer to put one of these gifts together for Jesus. It just may be that the present I need to offer Jesus is a simple prayer asking for the grace to truly desire and genuinely commit to do one of those things. Maybe I need to ask someone to hold me accountable to the gift that I offer this Christmas season to Jesus.
Allow me to finish with a favorite prayer from the church’s Liturgy of the Hours: “Lord, extolled in the heights by angelic powers, you are also praised by all earth’s creatures, each in its own way. With all the splendor of heavenly worship, you still delight in such tokens of love as earth can offer. May heaven and earth together acclaim you as King: may the praise that is sung in heaven resound in the heart of every creature on earth” (Sunday, Week III, Morning Prayer).
Fr. Peterson is director of mission and development for the Youth Apostles.
Made for communion