On the Feast of the Epiphany, First Sermon

We have only just celebrated the day on which spotless virginity brought forth the Savior of mankind, dearly beloved, and now the venerable feast of the Epiphany gives us a continuation of joy, so that the strength of our rejoicing and the warmth of our faith may not cool among these neighboring and kindred mysteries. For it concerns the salvation of all people that the infancy of the Mediator between God and men was already made known to the whole world while he was still kept in that tiny town. For although he had chosen the nation of Israel, and one family out of that nation, from which to take the nature of all mankind, he was unwilling that the early days of his birth should be hidden within the narrow bounds of his mother’s home. He wanted to be recognized by all, and soon, since he had been pleased to be born for all. So to three wise men in the region of the East there appeared a star of new splendor. Being brighter and more beautiful than the other stars, it could easily draw the eyes and minds of those who looked at it, so that they would see at once that something so unusual in appearance could not be without meaning. He, therefore, who gave the sign gave those who saw it the understanding of it. What he had made them understand, he made them inquire after; and when they had inquired, he offered himself to be found. [a]

These three men follow the leading of the light above. With steady gaze they obey the signs of the guiding splendor, and are led by the brilliance of grace to the recognition of the truth. For they supposed that the birth of a king had been made known to them in a human sense, and that he must be looked for in a royal city. Yet he who had taken the form of a slave, and had come not to judge but to be judged, chose Bethlehem for his birth and Jerusalem for his suffering. But Herod, hearing that a prince of the Jews had been born, suspected a successor and was terrified. To bring about the death of the Author of salvation, he promised a false homage. How happy he would have been had he imitated the wise men’s faith, and turned to a holy use what he planned for deceit! What blind wickedness of foolish jealousy, to think you can overthrow the divine plan by your frenzy! The Lord of the world, who offers an eternal kingdom, does not seek a temporal one. Why do you try to change the unchangeable order of what has been ordained, and to get ahead of others in their crime? The death of Christ does not belong to your time. The good news must first be set going, the kingdom of God first preached, healings first given to the sick, wonderful works first done. Why do you want to bear the blame for what will be another’s work? And why, when you cannot carry out your wicked plan, do you bring on yourself alone the charge of wishing the evil? You gain nothing and accomplish nothing by this scheming. He who was born by his own will will die of his own free will. So the wise men fulfill their desire and come to the child, the Lord Jesus Christ, with the same star going before them. They adore the Word in flesh, the Wisdom in infancy, the Power in weakness, the Lord of majesty in the reality of man. And by their gifts they openly acknowledge what they believe in their hearts, so as to show forth the mystery of their faith and understanding. They offer incense to God, myrrh to man, and gold to the King, knowingly honoring the divine and human natures in their union; for while each substance had its own properties, there was no difference in the power of either. [b]

When the wise men had gone back to their own land, and Jesus had been carried into Egypt at God’s prompting, Herod’s madness flares up in useless schemes. He orders all the little ones in Bethlehem to be killed, and since he does not know which infant to fear, he passes a general sentence on the age he suspects. But those whom the wicked king removes from the world, Christ admits to heaven; and on those for whom he had not yet shed his redeeming blood he already bestows the dignity of martyrdom. Lift up your faithful hearts, then, dearly beloved, to the gracious blaze of eternal light, and, adoring the mysteries bestowed for the salvation of mankind, give careful heed to what has been done on your behalf. Love the purity of a chaste life, because Christ is the Son of a virgin. “Abstain from fleshly cravings, which war against the soul,” as the blessed apostle urges us, present to us in his words as we read them. “In malice be children,” because the Lord of glory made himself like mortal infants. Follow the humility that the Son of God was pleased to teach his disciples. Put on the strength of endurance, by which you may be able to gain your souls, since he who is the Redemption of all is also the Strength of all. “Set your minds on the things that are above, not on the things that are on the earth.” Walk firmly along the path of truth and life. Do not let earthly things hinder you, for whom heavenly things are prepared through our Lord Jesus Christ, who with the Father and the Holy Spirit lives and reigns forever and ever. Amen. [c]