Feast of the Epiphany

The feast of the Epiphany is really Christmas for the Gentiles while what we know as Christmas is in fact Christmas for the Jews. The wise men arrive in Jerusalem through physical sciences but they need the Scripture to show them the rest of the way so they may find the child whom they seek. In the same way our society in New Zealand, dominated by materialism, consumerism and scientism, cannot find Christ through natural theology/revelation alone. It needs the Scripture to show it the way. How can it know this unless someone preaches to them?: "But how are they to call on one in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in one of whom they have never heard? And how are they to hear without someone to proclaim him? And how are they to proclaim him unless they are sent?... So, faith comes from what is heard, and what is heard comes through the Word of Christ." (Rm 10: 14-15, 17) All Christians are called to be missionary disciples who are prepare to share the Good News with others. King Herod has access to the Scriptures but his desire is only to kill the Christ child just as on Good Friday the Jewish authorities sought to and succeeded in silencing Jesus as an adult. The wise men, once they have found Jesus no longer need direction from the corrupt and psychopath king. They return "by another road" keeping in their hearts what they knew when they knelt in homage to the real king.