What you have received as a gift, give as a gift

Listening to the Spirit

Songs of thankfulness and praise,
Jesus, Lord, to you we raise,
Manifested by the star
To the sages from afar;
Branch of royal David’s stem
In your birth at Bethlehem;
Anthems be to you addrest,
God in flesh made manifest.

Manifest at Jordan’s stream,
Prophet, Priest, and King supreme;
And at Cana, wedding guest,
In your Godhead manifest;
Manifest in power divine,
Changing water into wine;
Anthems be to you addrest,
God in flesh made manifest.

Manifest in making whole,
Palsied limbs and fainting soul;
Manifest in valiant fight,
Quelling all the devil’s might;
Manifest in gracious will,
Ever changing good from ill;
Anthems be to you addrest,
God in flesh made manifest.

Grant us grace to see you, Lord,
Mirrored in your holy word;
May we imitate you now,
And your grace on us endow;
That we like to you may be,
At your great epiphany;
And may praise you ever blest,
God in flesh made manifest. Amen.

Listening to the Word

Mt 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.

Reflection

The year 2021 was marked by the 500 years celebration of Christianity in the Philippines. The Solemnity of the Epiphany invites us to revisit and reflect on this event once again because Epiphany is a missionary feast that echoes the theme "Missio ad-Gentes."

‘Ad-Gentes’ is generally translated as "to all nations." Yet, from a biblical point of view, 'gentes' refers to the 'gentiles' which means a nation that is not Jewish. In today’s Gospel, Jesus was manifested to the gentiles represented by the magi from the East. These non-Jewish wise men went to Bethlehem of Judea following the sign of the star to do homage to the newborn king.

Paradoxically, the magi of the East recognized the sign of the star and took action, while the chief priests and scribes, who knew about the sign, didn’t act. In a similar way, 500 years since the Philippines received the ‘Epiphany,’ however, are we still following the sign of the star and taking action? Or have we become like the chief priests and scribes who knew about it but didn’t act?

The Gospel tells us that the magi brought gifts to Jesus, but in reality, the magi were the ones to receive the gift brought by Jesus by His incarnation. They received the gift of faith because they believe in the Messiah. The CBCP logo for the year of “Missio Ad-Gentes” emphasizes the theme “gifted to give.” The Philippines too, like the magi, were given the gift of faith 500 years ago. Now is the time for the Philippines to share this gift “to all nations” as it’s written in Matthew 10:8 “What you have received as a gift, give as a gift.”