OMELIE / Omelie EN

06 gen 2026

06/01/2026 - Epiphany of the Lord - A

06/01/2026 - Epiphany of the Lord - A

First reading Is 60:1-6 from Psalm 71 Second reading Eph 3:2-3, 5-6 Gospel Mt 2:1-12

Today our eyes are turned on a star, the one which was sought, observed, found. But who told the Magi that a star could reveal the King of the Jews? And why is the King of the Jews even important to them, who are not Jews? We know: they had the same teacher who taught Noah to look at the sky to see the rainbow in the clouds. In it, Noah saw God's reward for his obedience, even though he was the only one who obeyed and was mocked by everyone: “Only you,” they all said to him, “do as everyone else does”. Those others are no longer there, and now he is the only one who lives, and still lives an obedient life.

Another mage, from another people of the East, paid to curse Israel, was inspired and compelled by God to bless it, prophesying: “A star shall come out of Jacob, and a sceptre shall rise out of Israel” (Num 24:17).

God is the God of all peoples, loves them and wants to bring them all together, even those who have not received the revelation welcomed by Abraham. All peoples are loved by God, and God enriches them with his gifts without depending on anyone. The people of Abraham received the revelation so that it might fulfil the mission of bringing other peoples to the light with which God wishes to guide them, to gather them into one people enjoying peace. They too will be able to enjoy it, like all others, only when they follow the one who holds the sceptre. He is awaited by all, not only by the people of Israel.

The Magi will even help the people of Israel recognise the time of the presence of the one who will hold the sceptre, while, thanks to their Scriptures, the wise men of Israel will give them directions to the place where he is born, and therefore where to look for him, where to find him.

They looked to the sky, but he comes to earth. It is the whole earth that needs him. The earth is ruled by men who hold a sceptre in their hands, but from whom did they receive it? They use it to oppress, to commit violence, to exercise selfishness and to enrich themselves: they received it from the murderer, from the one who armed Cain's hand. The sceptre of the one who is to come will instead be used to purify evil, removing the spirit of Cain from the earth and uniting everyone as brothers and sisters, to make everyone children of the God of love and peace, so that their lives may become a celebration.

When the Magi begin to obey the Scriptures of Israel, even though the one who revealed them to them is not interested, then the star helps them to fulfil their obedience. And so they truly encounter the one who is the true star, so called by the prophecy of the mage Balaam.

They did not expect to find him as they found him. Presenting themselves to Herod, they imagined him inside a palace built by and filled with men. Instead, his palace is poverty, and he is not surrounded by servants and courtiers, he has no authority to be served, nor does he seek it.

They had brought gifts with them, the kind that can be presented to a king inside a palace. They offer them anyway, and they are received by the hands of the Mother. What will the Mother do with them, what will Joseph do with those gifts? Will they take them to the temple in Jerusalem to give thanks to God? Will they do what Jesus will see the poor widow do, empty her small savings into the alms box?

And for them, for the Magi, what does it mean having given him the gold? And the incense? And finally, the myrrh? This is used in the bridal chamber on the wedding day. It will accompany his greatest love, the love with which he will give his life for his bride: it will perfume the sheets in his tomb. They therefore are preparing to love: it will cost them departing in secret, humbling themselves, prepared to carry the cross.

Incense will accompany his nights of prayer and vigil on the mountain and in secluded places. They will imitate him, and their prayer will rise like incense before God!

Gold will keep alive in him the desire and the will to benefit men, whose humanity without him is incomplete, lacking in fullness. He will not benefit them with gold, so that no one will exchange gold for a master to serve. He will benefit them with his word, with his hands and his gaze, while the gold, now hidden in his poor palace, will help them to love poverty. They are ready to hear his words with joy: “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven”.

The Kingdom of the Jews does not come to the homeland they return to, but the King of the Kingdom of Heaven will always be with them, wherever they are: they will obey him alone, as they obeyed the star and the Scriptures.