“All kings shall pay him homage, all nations shall serve him.” Psalm
72:11
The Jewish people of Jesus’s time had long awaited the
promised Messiah, their King and Redeemer. But when Christ came, He revealed
Himself not just to the Jews, but to all people. Today’s readings celebrate the
moment He was made manifest to the Gentile world, by recounting the story of wise
men who came from afar to worship Jesus. The magi were diligently seeking God,
and by reading the signs in the heavens and following the Star of Bethlehem,
they found the baby Jesus. They came to worship Him, “bearing gold and
frankincense, and proclaiming the praises of the Lord,” fulfilling the prophecy
of Isaiah.
For those of us of non-Jewish backgrounds, this represents
the moment we were invited to the family of God. What a gift and a time to
celebrate! In the very beginning of Jesus’s time on earth, we are called to be
adopted children of God, to know Him and follow Him.
When Jesus left the earth, His mission completed, His final
command to the apostles was to take the Good News to all nations. He wanted
every nation and every person on earth to hear the Good News of salvation. Yet,
over 2000 years later, there are many who still reject the invitation of a
loving Father to become children of God.
In our own nation, we have had the luxury of living in a
world permeated by Christian values, our actions and lives informed by faith in
Father who loves us, and a King who gave His life for us. But many people have
come to believe that our world would be the same without Christ. It seems a
hardening of heart has come over the world as it once came over Herod, causing
many to reject the King who came to save us.
Now is the time for each of us, as disciples of Christ, to
urgently continue the mission to speak and live the truth of the Gospel, to
hold the light of God high, so that all the nations in this dark world would
open their eyes and hearts to behold the shining radiance of our God and King.
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