Homily / Sermon for the Epiphany

‘Where is the infant king of the Jews?’ the wise men asked. ‘We saw his star as it rose and have come to do him homage.’  (Matthew 2:2)

In today’s Gospel we are given a very great contrast between two kinds of kings: King Herod, and his advisors; and the Wise Men who travel into the Holy Land.

How do they understand the ancient prophecies about the birth of this child? How can they understand the work which he is sent to do? What role will he have amongst them, and what duty will they owe to him?

Now the interesting thing is that both Herod and  the Wise Men largely agree: this child is destined to be someone who Is greater than they are, someone to whom they should give homage, someone whom they must worship.

But there the similarity ends. And the difference between them comes not because of their belief in the prophecies but because of their outlook on life.

For Herod the King sees only politics and power, allegiances and hierarchies, armies and battles, wealth and influence. A great king, a greater King, must fit in this model. He can only be a threat. And he can only be dealt with by force, when he is at his weakest.

But the wise men, even if we think of them as Kings, are outsiders; they are seekers not after power but after truth, not fighters of battles, but enquirers for meaning and purpose, they seek not wealth or influence, but hope. They seek not for their own benefit, but for the good of all mankind.

And human beings today are not so different. Do we - like Herod- search for wealth and comfort and personal glory and position? Or are we - like the wise men - more concerned with truth and hope and the good of all mankind?  


How do they understand the ancient prophecies about the birth of this child? How can they understand the work which he is sent to do? What role will he have amongst them, and what duty will they owe to him?

Now the interesting thing is that both Herod and the Wise Men largely agree: this child is destined to be soneone who Is greater than they are, someone to whom they should give homage, someone whom they must worship.

But there the similarity ends. And the difference between them comes not because of their belief in the prophecies but because of their outlook on life.

For Herod the King sees only politics and power, allegiancies and hierarchies, armies and battles, wealth and influence. A great king, a greater King, must fit in this model. He can only be a threat. And he can only be dealt with by force, when he is at his weakest.

But the wise men, even if we think of them as Kings, are outsiders; they are seekers not after power but after truth, not fighters of battles, but enquirers for meaning and purpose, they seek not wealth or influence, but hope. They seek not for their own benefit, but for the good of all mankind.

And human beings today are not so different. Do we - like Herod- search for wealth and comfort and personal glory and position? Or are we - like the wise men - more concerned with truth and hope and the good of all mankind?