EpiphA23.    Isaiah 60:1-6.   The Church transferred the original reference of this text which was to Jerusalem being prophesied to be gloriously being rebuilt after its annihilation by the Babylonians to the glory given to Jerusalem much later by the Messiah Jesus being born there to bring it salvation.  “Caravans of camels shall fill you, dromedaries from Midian and Ephah; all from Sheba shall come bearing gold and frankincense, and proclaiming the praises of the Lord.”  Isaiah 62:11 says, “See the Lord proclaims to the ends of the earth: Say to daughter Zion, your savior comes!”

Matthew 2:1-12.  John 1:3c says, “The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.”  Herod personifies the forces of darkness when he tells the Magi to inform him of the location of the child of whom it is said to be “the newborn king of the Jews” so that he might kill him and not as he in his subterfuge says that he will do him homage.  The Magi or royal astrologers (star readers or interpreters) represent for us the acceptance by the gentile world of the messiahship of Jesus.  The gifts that we bring to Jesus daily are acts, words and thoughts of love inspired in us by the Holy Spirit.

Ephesians 3:2-3a, 5-6.  By the grace of God it was made known “that the Gentiles are coheirs, members of the same body, and copartners in the promise in Christ Jesus through the gospel.”  Jesus is a Jew and the Messiah of the Jews but also Savior of all humanity.  The Magi were given the grace of God to recognize the divinity of Jesus and so to be the representatives of the Gentile world in accepting Jesus as the King our lives.  In accepting Jesus as the King of our lives, (Romans  8:28a) “we know that all things work for good for those who love God.”