Recently, a man stood inside one of the entrances to a Metro Station in Washington, D.C., playing some Bach pieces on a violin. He played for about 45 minutes in the middle of rush hour as thousands of people bustled past. A few slowed down for a moment to listen before scurrying on. Several children stopped to listen but were hurried along by their parents. After he finished, the man just walked away; no one stopped to applaud or thank him. This man was Joshua Bell, one of the best violinists in the world. He was playing some of the most intricate violin pieces ever written on a violin worth $3.5 million. Two days before his performance inside the subway entrance, he had played before a sold-out audience in Boston. The event at the Metro Station was organized by the Washington Post as part of a social experiment about perception and priorities. One of the conclusions from this experiment was: if we do not have a moment to stop and listen to one of the best musicians in the world playing the best music ever written, how many other things are we missing? And, if we aren’t open to surprises, we will miss out on extraordinary events happening right in front of us.
Today, as we continue to celebrate one of the most extraordinary events of all time – the birth of our savior – we recall a very interesting event when some wise men, like the children in the subway, stopped to appreciate something very special happening while everyone else just hurried past. The chosen people, who were longing for a king and awaiting intercession by their God, missed the signs given by their prophets and even celestial bodies. Magi, on the other hand who might have been either scientists or priests who came from distant lands and foreign cultures, paid careful attention and were led to the presence of God, hidden in the person of this little child. Even then, they weren’t blinded but recognized this infant as a king, as God, and as one prepared to die for his people, as is symbolized by the gold, frankincense and myrrh that they presented as gifts.
On this, Epiphany Sunday, we do well to reflect on how often we stop and reflect on the events that surround us and how open we are to God acting in surprising ways in our lives. It’s amazing how many epiphanies we have when we do this. Remember, an epiphany is an event where something hidden is revealed. Today, we recall God revealing himself in the flesh – as our king, indeed, as God, and one who is willing to die for us, and who will become a Savior for all people, as we hear St. Paul make so clear in today’s second reading.
This morning’s passage from Matthew’s Gospel tells the story of the Magi following the light of the star from the Far East to arrive in Bethlehem. First, they stop at Herod’s palace in Jerusalem, where they show no respect for his kingship but instead, they ask Herod, “Where is the newborn king of the Jews?” You can be sure that this question would have caused great consternation since Herod had, at great expense, bribed the Roman Senate to give him that title. He figured that he needed to be named “King of the Jews” if he wanted to be king over the Jews since he was not Jewish by blood. News of a newborn king of the Jews must have been very disturbing to him. The Magi dismiss him and continue their journey. Whereas they showed no respect for Herod in his royal court, once they encounter the Christ Child in his manger, they prostrate themselves before him for they recognize that they are in the presence of a true king, indeed, of God.
Then they open their treasures, two of which match perfectly with Isaiah’s prophecy that we hear in today’s first reading: gold for Jesus’ kingship, frankincense in recognition that he is, indeed, God. The gift that stands out – the one that seems most unlikely at this rather unusual baby shower, is the myrrh. This is a burial ointment, signifying that this child was born to give his life for others, as if the crib and the cross were cut from the same tree. One is never far from the other. Those of you right here in front of me will want to look at the manger scene depicted in the stained glass windows to your left where you see the crib and behind it, a red cross. Our stained glass windows are filled with so many teaching moments – marvelous!
Today, let us thank God for all he has done to open the doors of heaven for us. His love knows no boundaries. As we begin a New Year in his grace, let us commit ourselves to being open to surprising events – epiphanies, where God makes his presence known to us when we least expect it like the people hurrying past Joshua Bell in the Metro. And, in turn, let us do our part in announcing that good news to those who have not yet seen the light. Let the love and mercy of God shine in us and, like the star of Bethlehem, draw others to Jesus, our king, our God.