Sunday, January 4, 2026
Today, we celebrate the feast of the Epiphany, the revelation of God in human form through Jesus Christ. The English word “Epiphany” derives from the Greek “epiphaneia”, meaning “appearance,” or “manifestation.” Before Saint Matthew tells us in today’s Gospel about the star that rose, he unrolls the scroll of salvation history by giving “the genealogy of Jesus Christ, the son of David, the son of Abraham.” — Matthew 1:1. Matthew lists the names of Jesus’ earthly family tree and concludes with “Thus the total number of generations from Abraham to David is fourteen generations; from David to the Babylonian exile, fourteen generations; from the Babylonian exile to the Messiah, fourteen generations.” — Matthew 1:1-17. Jesus’ genealogy, divided into three series of fourteen generations, highlights God’s providential plan amid Israel’s history of fidelity and failure. Thomas Aquinas noted that the tripartite structure marks major shifts in Israel’s governance, each spanning fourteen generations, to underscore that human institutions (judges, kings, priests) failed to reform the people, prefiguring Christ’s transformative role as the ultimate Judge, King, and Priest. The continuity of the genealogy, which includes gentile women, Tamar, Rahab, Ruth, Bathsheba, subtly foreshadows the Epiphany’s theme of Gentiles as co-heirs with Jews of the divine promise originally made to Abraham and his descendants. God’s promise endures through exile and imperfection, culminating in Christ who unites all eras and peoples, affirming God’s faithful design from Abraham to eternity.
The first reading begins with a command that resembles the blast of a trumpet: “Arise! Shine, for your light has come, the glory of the Lord has dawned upon you.” — Isaiah 60:1. Saint Paul in the second reading tells us that the mystery of the Gospel “which was not made known to human beings in other generations as it has now been revealed to his holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit, that the Gentiles are coheirs, members of the same body, and copartners in the promise in Christ Jesus through the gospel.” — Ephesians 3:5-6. The Gospel is not private for a select few but for all people. Finally, we encounter the Magi in Saint Matthew’s Gospel. They were seekers who looked at the heavens not just to see stars, but to find meaning. They were stirred to leave their homes courageously, and by nightlight, they followed the star and were rewarded by encountering the Holy Family.
The Gospel ends with a small but vital detail: the Magi, having been warned in a dream, departed by another way! No one meets Christ and stays unchanged. You cannot encounter the Living God and return to your old life, your old habits, or your old ways after seeing the True King. What does “another way” mean for our devotion to God, relationships with family, treatment of others, and use of our time, talents, and resources? Conversion is not just a change of mind; it is a change of ways. The Epiphany proclaims: Christ’s light has come! From Isaiah’s dawn to the Magi’s joy, we are called to adore, journey, and shine, no more darkness. Let us carry this light to the world.
Go in Peace to Love and Serve the Lord.