A sermon on Epiphany Matthew 2:1-12

By Fr. Mike Paraniuk
HCP columnist

The story of Epiphany is God revealing the divinity of Jesus to the three wise men who brought gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh. There is a joke about a fourth wise man who was turned away for bringing a fruitcake. Pardon the levity, but I ask a serious question. What is the best gift you could bring Jesus? 

I will explain it with a story from my life.

As a young boy, I was body shamed by other school kids. I know how Rudolph the red-nosed reindeer felt. I, too, was not chosen to play in any games. I was the "odd man out" still standing in line while others were picked to be on the baseball, football or soccer team. Rudolph was rejected for his big red nose. I was rejected for having...big ears. 

When I was younger, my ears stuck out really far. They say kids can be cruel. I know that first hand. My nickname in school was Dumbo, the big-eared elephant. I was compared to a car with the doors left open. Even my own mother, God Bless her, said she wanted me to have a surgery to draw my ears back. She meant well, but it still hurt. 

For four years, I lived out side the seminary when I was 23. I was a "lifer," who entered seminary when I was only 14. I wanted to experience life like other young people. Get a job. Live on my own...and go on dates. Fortunately, my first job was at the Paul Smith Electronics Company. I could easily find a date there because the company only hired girls for the factory. One hundred girls to choose from. A dating paradise!

I was so shy, but I finally found the courage to ask one of the factory girls out to dinner. I dribbled on saying she was probably too busy to go out with me while the entire time she was saying, "yes." 

This date was not just fun. A powerful healing took place. I took her home like a gentleman should. She kept staring at my face with this intense look. 

I thought, here it comes. She'll make fun of my ears like everyone else. Then she spoke these words that were a healing balm to my broken heart. "Mike, you have the most beautiful ears!" 

Wow. I never heard that before. This was the first time someone liked me because of my ears. She restored my worth with these seven words. What a wonderful gift she gave me. I gained a newfound confidence I lacked for way too many years. I confidently re-entered the seminary and never looked back. 

The best gift that God wants from you is to help others see the goodness that is inside them. God said in Genesis 1:31, "God saw all that he had made, and it was very good." 

The Epiphany is when God revealed through the flesh of a baby the depth of His love – a love that has no exceptions. God wants to gift his love to others through your flesh.  

God says in Psalm 147:3, "He heals the broken-hearted and binds up their wounds." 

Allow God to use your life as the instrument of healing for those who feel unloved, unwanted, or unimportant. You are the gift God wants so that He can bind broken hearts through you. The Epiphany is not a one-time event, but a journey where God will reveal His divinity through your humanity. Your kindness, your caring deeds, your generous sacrifices, and your faith is the gift God wants.

It was reported when the Magi left, one Wise Man sighed, “That was the longest baby shower ever.” 

As you journey to God, be sure to shower His Love along the way in all you say and do. Happy New Year.