Father Chris – EPIPHANY 2021 - Homily

“Grant Us Peace”

Yes, a New Year has begun! And with it usually comes the desire for change, for new approaches to things, ‘resolutions’ to commit to this and that, maybe lose weight, maybe get a new job, maybe start a new business or start a family.


But what is it each one of us is seeking right now in our daily lives, in our communities, in our world at large? For what are we truly yearning: is it money? Prestige? Perhaps something we think money and prestige could give us like safety and security or the ability to say ‘no’ without fear and do what we please.


The starving would say they want resources of food, water, shelter and clothing. The ill among us would say they want good health, physical and mental healing. The overworked and stressed want relief from physical and mental exhaustion.
The bewildered and lost want to see clearly again, to find freedom from addictions.


And then there are the labourers who would say they want fair wages and benefits.
Teachers would say they want safe environments for their students and themselves.
Parents would say they want opportunities for their children to grow and learn.
Many would simply say they want equality and mutual respect for who they are.


The human condition is far too often characterized by its needs, wants and often demands. Soon after birth, the human being finds itself a stranger in a strange land.
Self-preservation becomes the order of the day. Nourishment, protection and love become paramount. Once these needs become intertwined with wants, then desires,
the problems begin to arise. Because we lose sight of what we are truly seeking for ourselves, our communities and our world at large. The childhood mantra, “I want,
I want, I want … ” can sadly embed itself into our adult lives, until we have simply strayed too far away from what truly matters, and cannot recognize it anymore.


The Magi were looking for what we may have forgotten truly matters most in our lives, communities, and in our world at large. But first, let us look at these ‘Three Kings’ or ‘Three Wise Men’ or ‘Three Magi’, or whoever they actually were.




The story of these three ‘inquisitive, curious’ men has gone through many revisions, almost mythologized from what they truly were. First of all, historic, archaeological clues seem to tell us there would have been many men, not just three, and even women among them, ‘daughters’ to cook and mind the children. This makes sense if we look at Isaiah’s prophecies: “they all gather together, your sons shall come from far away, and your daughters shall be carried on their nurses’ arms.” And clearly, they are coming from all over the then known world, from sea to sea, bringing with them the wealth and treasures from their nations. “A multitude of camels shall cover you, the young camels of Midian and Ephah; all those from Sheba”, bringing gold and frankincense to proclaim their Lord.” Many, he says!


Over the centuries, the story became more symbolic. For awhile there were 12 men; then four; then three. Because they seemed to be bringing three gifts, it became natural to think there were only three men. They soon became associated with the three known continents: Asia, Africa, and Europe. Early scholars determined their gifts were symbolic: Gold, in honour of Christ the King; Frankincense and its invisible but pungent scent in honour of Christ’s divine, mystical, invisible nature; Myrrh, used for embalming, as an indicator of his mortal sacrifice. Matthew knew these men were actually scientists or astronomers, magi being the ancient term for this, but along the way they were given names: Caspar, Melchior and Balthazar. This is why we dig deep into scripture for the truth, not taking things too literally. Stories enjoyed by the ancient world were often dramatized and embellished, even distorted to emphasize a point, so the truth can sometimes be hard to determine.


So, what was it these men were seeking? Quite apart from what they planned to ‘give’, what were they hoping to ‘receive’ from this child whom the stars and their mystical science had drawn them to? It is what we, ourselves, our communities, our world, are all truly seeking: Peace! It is peace which the lord brings us. Nothing brings us closer to God, nothing frees our troubled minds and hearts like peace.


Some may say, but what about ‘love’? The answer is: love ‘fosters’ peace! It gives ‘birth’ to ‘peace’, nourishes ‘peace’, protects ‘peace, just like it does the new born, and every adult. We should be chanting: “What do we want? We want peace, Lord, and we want it, need it now. “Lamb of God, you take away the sins of the world, have mercy on us, and grant us peace.”


– Rev Fr Christopher Tracey, Saint Joseph Parish, Saugeen Shores, Ontario