Every year on the Feast of the Epiphany of the Lord, we hear a familiar story: a star, wise men from the East, a dangerous king, and a child lying in poverty. But if we listen carefully, this Gospel is not really about the Magi traveling to Jesus. It is about Jesus revealing who he is, to the whole world. That is what epiphany means: a manifestation, an unveiling. And at the heart of that unveiling are three gifts: gold, frankincense, and myrrh. They are not random. They are deliberate, prophetic, and breathtaking. These gifts tell us who Jesus is, what he came to do, and how we are meant to respond.
First Gift: Gold and The King We Did Not Expect. Historically, gold was the gift given to kings. Not to peasants. Not to children born in stables. Gold was reserved for power, authority, and sovereignty. The Magi come from the East; Gentiles, foreigners, and outsiders. They kneel before a child who has no crown, no palace, and no army. And yet they offer gold. In this Gospel, Matthew the evangelist makes a bold claim: Jesus is King, not just of Israel but of the nations. The Magi represent the world. And the world bows before this child.
But notice the contrast here. King Herod sits on a throne, trembling with fear. A newborn baby lies in a manger, and kings fall to their knees. The shocking message of Epiphany is that God’s kingship does not look like domination; it looks like vulnerability. God does not rule by force but by love. He conquers hearts, not territories.
The Magi gave him gold. Now is our turn. So what does it mean for us to offer gold today? Gold represents what we value most. Our priorities. Our time. Our ambitions. Our careers. Our desire for control. We offer gold to Jesus when we say, “You are not just part of my life; you are Lord of it.” When we let him reign not only in church, but in our decisions, our relationships, and our daily choices.
Second Gift: Frankincense, which points to God With Us. Frankincense was used in worship. It was burned in the Temple. Its smoke rose like a prayer toward heaven. This was the gift offered to God. By presenting frankincense, the Magi are proclaiming something surprising: this child is divine. Not just a king. Not just a prophet. God has entered human history. Matthew’s Gospel begins with the name Emmanuel, “God with us.” And Jesus, the Emmanuel, promises us at the end of Matthew’s account of the Gospel, “I will be with you until the end of time.” Here, at the Epiphany, that truth is revealed to the nations. The Magi do not worship an idea or a doctrine. They worship a person. God is no longer distant, hidden behind clouds or commandments. God has a face. God can be held. God can be encountered. And that changes everything.
So how do we offer frankincense today? We offer it through worship and prayer, and also through presence. When we make room for God in the ordinary. When we allow him to dwell not only in sacred spaces but in our homes, our workplaces, and our struggles. Every time we pray honestly, every time we lift our hearts instead of just our lips, every time we recognize God’s presence in the middle of chaos, we offer frankincense again.
Third Gift: Myrrh, which points to the Love That Will Suffer. Myrrh is the most disturbing gift of all. Historically, myrrh was used to anoint bodies for burial. It is the gift of death. Why would anyone bring myrrh to a child? Matthew is planting the seed of the cross at the very beginning of the Gospel. From the cradle, the shadow of Calvary is already falling. The Magi may not fully understand it, but the gift proclaims the truth: this child is born to suffer, to die, and to save. Epiphany is not sentimental. It is honest. Love will cost Jesus everything. And here is the hardest part: if we follow him, it will cost us too.
So how do we offer myrrh today? We offer it when we bring Jesus our pain, our wounds, our sacrifices, and our obedience. When we choose love, even when it hurts. When we forgive instead of retaliating. When we remain faithful instead of walking away. Myrrh is offered when we say, “Lord, even this suffering, even this cross, I give it to you.”
The Gospel ends with a quiet but powerful line: “They departed for their country by another way.” An encounter with Christ always changes our direction. The Magi come searching for a king. They leave having met a Savior. They come guided by a star. They leave guided by obedience. They arrive one way. They go home another. That is the question Epiphany asks us today: Have we been changed enough to walk a different road? We may not have gold, frankincense, or myrrh. But we do have something just as precious: our loyalty, our worship, and our willingness to follow, even when the path is hard. If we offer Jesus these gifts, then Epiphany will not remain a story we hear once a year; it will become a life we live every day. And like the Magi, we will discover this truth: When Christ is revealed to us, we are never the same again.
Homily for the Epiphany of the Lord Year A 2026
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