Dear brothers and sisters!
Today we celebrate the feast of the Epiphany, the "manifestation" of the Lord. The Gospel tells how Jesus came into the world with great humility and obscurity. San Matteo, however, relates the story of the Magi who came from the East, guided by a star to pay homage to the newborn King of the Jews. Every time I hear this story, we are struck by the stark contrast between the attitude of the Magi, on the one hand, and that of Herod and the Jews on the other. For the Gospel says that on hearing the words of the Magi, "King Herod was troubled and all Jerusalem with him" (Mt 2.3). A reaction that may have different understandings: Herod is alarmed because he sees that the Magi looking for a competitor for himself and for his children. The leaders and residents of Jerusalem, however, seem more like astounded, as awakened from a slumber, and in need of reflection. Isaiah, in fact, had announced: "A child is born for us, / we have been given a son. / Power upon his shoulder / and his name would be: / Advisor admirable, / Mighty God / Eternal Father , Prince of Peace "(Is 9.5).
Why is Jerusalem so upset? It seems that the evangelist wants to almost anticipate what will then be the position of the chief priests and the Sanhedrin, but also to the people, against Jesus during his public life. Of course, the fact stands out that knowledge of the Scriptures and of the messianic prophecy does not lead everyone to open up to him and to his word. Comes to mind that, on the eve of the Passion, Jesus wept over Jerusalem because it did not recognize the time when it was visited (cf. Lk 19:44). Here we touch upon one of the crucial points of the theology of history: the tragedy of the faithful love of God in the person of Jesus, "was his own, / and his people received him not" ( Jn 1:11). In view of the entire Bible, this attitude of hostility, or ambiguity, or superficiality represents that of every man and "the world" - in a spiritual sense - when you close to the mystery of the true God, who comes to us in disarming gentleness of love. Jesus, the King of the Jews "(cf. Jn 18:37), is the God of mercy and fidelity, he wants to reign in love and truth and asks us to repent, to give up evil deeds and to walk definitely the way to good.
"Jerusalem", therefore, in this sense we all are! We aid the Virgin Mary, who welcomed Jesus with faith, not to close our hearts to his Gospel of salvation. Let us rather than be conquered and transformed by him, the 'Emmanuel, God came among us to give us the gift of His peace and His love.
