Sunday Homily, 4 January 2026 - Fr Paul Rowse, OP

Would that a sign as clear as a star were given more often.  Would that we too would draw the right conclusions about its significance. We can envy the Magi: they saw Christ face-to-face; they met the Blessed Virgin.  Such is their place in salvation history; this is what they were chosen to do.  And we might wish it was our place too.

But we have been chosen for other things.  The Magi have such firm conviction, such a good read on the heavens.  Could we not have the same ourselves?  But we have been given is much greater then what they received.

We have much greater knowledge of Christ than the Magi.  Yes, they saw Christ in the flesh. Yes, they met the holy Child of Bethlehem.  But they know only a little more about him than Pontius Pilate: like him, they affirm he is King of the Jews, but from birth.  The Magi know nothing about Jesus after his infancy: no amazing miracles, no sublime teaching, no saving sacrifice, or life-giving resurrection.  The Magi had to content themselves with what they saw with their own eyes. We glory in all that our faith allows us to see.

We have a much greater gifting to Christ than the Magi.  Yes, they brought gold, frankincense, and myrrh.  And well might we wonder what gift we would lay at the Blessed Virgin's feet for her Son.  The Son of God is not enriched by anything that we can find to give him.  Precious metal and tree gum resins do not add to his majesty.  But we give Christ the only gift that he wants: ourselves.  It is not Christ who is enriched by the generosity of the wise, but rather the wise who are generous enough to allow themselves to be Christ's who are enriched.

We have a much greater life after meeting Christ than the Magi.  Yes, they spent time in the company of the Lord and his mother.  The ardour of their journeying was rewarded with clear sight.  But the Magi went home; they and Christ went their separate ways.  But having encountered him here, we take Christ with us.  And every place that we are is where we may receive grace to do good.

We might want what the Magi had, but what they had did not make them stay with Jesus. What we have reveals how Jesus is God-with-us.  He is Emmanuel because he is leading us from this Bethlehem of ours to his eternal city.

Today we recognise that Christ has not simply arrived on earth, as the Magi did, but that he is also promising to take us to heaven.

Today we recognise that Christ is not simply honoured with gifts, as the Magi did, but that he is worthy of our greatest praise.

Today we recognise that Christ is not simply met once in royal David’s city, as the Magi did, but beloved of our city as well.

And thus, we are learning to love the place and time which God has ordained as that in which we know his Only-Begotten Son.

May the Jesus, God-with-us, be everywhere known and loved for the eternal life.

Fr Paul Rowse, OP

Parish Priest