Our catechism teaches us that God’s presence is manifested in creation and all its beauty as the song goes “When I gaze into the night skies and see the work of your fingers, the moon and stars suspended in space.” The Greek word for this is diaphany, meaning “to appear through.” But beyond and deeper than this is the “theophany,” the appearing of God moving and acting in the history of the Israelites, which we read in the Old Testament. But the ultimate “appearing of God moving and acting in history,” the epiphany, is Jesus of Nazareth. This is the mystery we contemplate today: God draws near to us. The timeless and invisible God is made visible and moves and acts within time. God has a human face, which he fashioned “according to his own image and likeness.” The child born of Mary is God Himself!
Yet His own countryman, Herod, seeks to get rid of Him. But three wise men from the East come to pay Him homage—the culmination of their lifelong journey in search for truth, which led them through ancient literature, prophecies, and the study of the stars. They offer Him gold, recognizing Him as king. They offer Him frankincense, recognizing Him as priest and God Himself. They offer myrrh, recognizing Him as the prophet who will be killed for teaching the truth.
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