“Rise up in splendor! Your light has come, the glory of the Lord shines upon you.” So proclaims the opening of our first reading from the Prophet Isaiah, chapter 60. Earlier in Isaiah, the prophet spoke to the people returning to Jerusalem from more than 40 years in exile in Babylon. Then his words were to give praise and glory to God for they had been redeemed and delivered from the sins that led to their exile. But now, the prophet tells them it is the time to rise up because the glory of the Lord is radiating from them to the whole world. They are like a city gleaming in the light of the newly risen sun, shining with a beauty that is not their own. And the world is responding: “Nations shall walk by your light, and kings by your shining radiance.”  The reading paints a vivid picture of people coming from the four corners of the world, drawn by the light and glory of God, bringing their riches – not to the people of Jerusalem – but as gifts to the Temple where they can proclaim “the praises of the Lord.”

Today as we celebrate the Epiphany of the Lord we see that playing out in a nascent way. We celebrate Christ, the Light of the World is in the world, and the world is coming to him as seen in the visit of the magi. We too are part of the scene. We are the people coming to the Temple, bringing our gifts and proclaiming the praises of the Son of God Most High. Coming as we are at this point in our journey of life.

All of the great epics and narratives seem to have some story of journeys and quests. Several years ago I was researching for my master’s thesis on early Franciscan Missions. I discovered that Franciscan missionaries arrived in China in 1292 traveling by foot from Italy to Beijing! In the course of my research I ran across The Travels of Marco Polo in which he describes his travels in the far east. I was scanning the text to see if he had any mention of contact with the friars or the Christian monasteries that dotted the silk road in those days. 

While he had no mention of either – he did recount a most interesting rendition of the account of the Three Magi. Marco Polo wrote that he encountered this version of the story in Persia (modern day Iran). In that account there are three magi – but they are not traveling together. Like us, each is on his own journey. Each was following the star to Bethlehem. Melchior is an older man, Balthazar is an adult in his middle years, and Gaspar is a young man just reaching adulthood.

When Melchior reaches Bethlehem he goes in search of the newborn king and upon arriving at the cave where the Holy Family is staying, Melchior enters the cave and encounters an older man like himself. They speak together, sharing memories, experience and the accumulated wisdom of their lives. The older man tells him to return later and then he will meet the newborn king.

Similarly, Balthazar arrives at the cave and encounters an adult in the same middle years – like himself. They speak together about the importance of leadership, teaching the young, passing on the traditions and customs, and the key obligations and responsibilities of this life. The man tells him to return later and then he will meet the newborn king.

When Gaspar arrives he encounters a young man like himself. They are both filled with passion about how they can make a difference, change the world and make justice reign in the lives of everyday people – if only those in current positions of authority would listen. His counterpart tells him to return later and then he will meet the newborn king.

All three magi return bearing gifts and reach the cave at the same time. When they enter they find the Holy Family and the Christ child. 

We often think of people coming from the four corners of the earth, but the Persian magi story points out that we come to encounter Christ in all the stages of life. The radiating Light of Christ draws people of every age and persuasion: the old, the middle aged and the young – you and me.

The magi were attentive to signs in the sky that led them to encounter Jesus. We can encounter Jesus if we reflect on our life’s experience, consider and reconsider our hopes and dreams, and are attentive to our everyday work and play – on the good days and the not-so-good days. They were attentive and then did something about it and as a result encountered Jesus, bringing their gifts. Attentive and willing to take action – precursors to a deeper encounter with Jesus. What gifts do we bring? 

Some of us will be like Mechior, filled with the gift memories, experience and the accumulated wisdom of our lives. Trust that God will show you how to share the splendor of those gifts.

Some of us are like Balthazar, in positions of leadership in family, work, and community. We are active in building and growing for the sake of others. Trust that God will show you how to rise up in grace as you teach your children, lead your organization, and fulfill the obligations and responsibilities of your chosen life.

Some of us possess the passion and promise of Gaspar. We have degrees of freedom in the paths we will take and we desire to change the world and make justice reign in the lives of everyday people. Trust that God will show you how to direct those energies to build the Kingdom of God.

The magi had a once-in-a-lifetime encounter with Jesus – a one time Epiphany. We are blessed to have unlimited opportunities, unlimited Epiphanies, to encounter Christ – and in each encounter to discover even more. We are truly blessed and in the first reading the prophet reminds us to be grateful for the blessing, to be continually amazed at the power of the glory and light to affect people’s lives. But also that we are to leave our encounter with Christ and return to the world, each to our own home. We are to “Rise up in splendor! Your light has come, the glory of the Lord shines upon you.” We are like the city gleaming in the light of the newly risen sun, shining with a beauty that is not our own. A beauty that radiates the Light of Christ, drawing others to their own Epiphany, their own journey in discovering Christ.

Like Melchior, Balthazar, and Gaspar, be attentive, take action, and then Rise up in splendor..! Your light has come, the glory of the Lord shines upon you… upon you the LORD shines, and over you appears his glory… Raise your eyes and look about. See what the Lord has revealed to you. 

May the Light of Christ guide your journey and show you what is yours to do.

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Image credit: The Adoration of the Magi by Edward Burne-Jones (1904) | Public Domain