Gospel Reflection

EPIPHANY SUNDAY

Matthew 2:1-12

Snobbish as it may sound, serendipity is a word that has gradually grown in meaning and currency since the late 18^th century. Thus, serendipity has come to mean the delightful surprise of stumbling upon something wholly other and better than what one has been looking and working for. Serendipity explains how ‘epiphany’ happens: catching sight of divine presence in unexpected moment and places.

“Where is the newborn king of the Jews? We saw his star and have come to do him homage.” Where is? expresses one of our deepest human drives. Our gaze keeps scanning the horizon in search of some star of our own… not to reach for it, for sure, but to serve as guide for an earthly journey of a lifetime.

The gifts the magi brought as homage symbolize what humanity still keeps on hoping for: a king (gold) whose rule would at last heal (myrrh) all bitter conflicts among humans and would scent (frankincense) their world with love and peace.

So the wise men asked on: where is? … until they found a helpless newborn in the arms of a young mother in a poor abode. It needs more than just outer accident to make serendipity happen. One further needs the inner ‘sagacity’ or wisdom of a kindly heart lit by faith and led by hope.