Matthew 2,1-12. The Feast of the Epiphany

Matthew 2,1-12 1025

ecce Dominator venit. The Feast of Epiphany 14

6. January 2025

1. ℣ Behold, the Lord, the Ruler, arrives:  

  ℟ and the kingdom, the power and the glory are in His hand. (Malachi 3,1a; 1. Chronicles 29,11a.12a alt. vul)

ecce Dominator venit: et magnificentia et potentia et gloria in manu eius (3,1a; 29,11a.12a alt.)

O Lord Jesus Christ, Heavenly K ing! … Keep us, we beseech Thee, in that wisdom which Thou didst reveal to the Wise Men. Grant unto us Thy Holy Spirit, that we may at all times seek Thy Kingdom.  Amen. (Löhe Liturgy for the Christian Congregation 127-28).

2. The chief priests and scribes tell King Herod that the Prophet Micah proclaimed where the Christ was to be born: »And you, O Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, are by no means least among the rulers of Judah; for from you will be a ruler who will Shepherd My people Israel« (Micah 5,2). Bethlehem is the hometown of David and through his lineage descends the Christ (1. Samuel 16,1; 2. Samuel 7,12; Isaiah 11,1-2; Matthew 1,16).

3. „What the Magi find there was a strange sort of Messiah. … They fell down and worshiped Him, gave their best. The Magi were His men. … They were the first of many people who would come from the East and sit at the table with Abraham, Isaac and Jacob“ (Nagel 41). The Prophets declare that the Gentiles would be drawn to the God of Israel and worship Him. Isaiah proclaimed »Yahweh says: „I will make My Servant as a Light for the Gentiles, that My salvation may reach to the end of the Earth“« (Isaiah 49,6b). 

4. Simeon sang of the merciful steadfast love of Yahweh when he held the Infant Jesus in his arms: lumen ad revelationem gentium et gloriam plebis tuae Israël. A Light to lighten the Gentiles and the Glory of Thy people Israel (Luke 2,32). »in lumine tuo videbimus lumen. In Thy Light we see light.« the Psalmist tells us (Psalm 36,9). And again, »nun lucerna pedibus meis verbum tuum et lumen semitis meis. Thy Word is a Lamp unto my feet and a Light unto my paths« (Psalm 119,105). Christ Jesus is our Light and our bright Morning Star.

5. The star in the nighttime sky drew the Magi to the Star of David, Christ Jesus our Lord. Jesus is the Divine Light, the Light of the world, in whose Light we see the light of salvation at the cross of Mt. Zion and the empty tomb in the garden. Jesus has drawn us to Himself, and once we have been captured by the gravity of His Divine love and salvation we continue to orbit Him and soak up the warmth of His forgiveness and grace. Jesus is the Christ, the firstborn son of Mary, and the Glorious Light of salvation for the Magi, for the entire world, for you and me, and thus we praise, laud and adore Him as the Star of salvation.

6. O God, who by the leading of a star didst manifest Thine only-begotten Son to the seekers from afar, mercifully grant that we, who know Thee now by faith, may after this life have the fruition of Thy glorious Godhead; through the same Jesus Christ, Thy Son, our Lord, who liveth and reigneth with Thee and the Holy Ghost, ever one God, world without end.  Amen. Gelasian Sacramentary (1^st Vespers Collect for Epiphany)

Nagel, Norman. Selected Sermons of Norman Nagel: From Valparaiso to St. Louis. Frederick W. Baue, Ed. Copyright © 2004 Concordia Publishing House.