REVEALING LIFE
“They prostrated themselves and did him homage.” – Mt. 2:11
Gender reveal parties are a big trend among millennials. Many young couples stage elaborately choreographed events, synchronized with real-time on social media to announce the gender of their expected babies. They want to share with as many people as possible their anticipated joy and surprise at the gift of life.
I would not presume to judge the intentions of couples who share their exuberant joy in revealing life. However, it doesn’t seem to be God’s way.
Epiphany is God's “big reveal.” God could have thrown a big party in a palace to introduce God’s only Son, to rival King Herod. Instead, the reveal took place in a cave, with an animals’ feeding trough for a crib, attended by poor parents, surrounded by shepherds as influencers who were historically known as crooks. The observable celebrity visitors – the Magi – bowed down to receive the newborn child.
When I visited the historical place of Jesus’ birth, we entered the Church of the Nativity in Bethlehem through its main entrance of 4 feet tall and 2 feet wide. After going through this Door of Humility, we walked through the Church and approached the main altar. Beneath the altar is a cave entrance. We descended a flight of steps to enter the cave. Then we got onto our hands and feet to reverence the place of Jesus’ reveal. I couldn’t help but recall the magi prostrating themselves to pay homage to God-with-us. Isn’t the posture of embracing a newborn one of humility and tenderness? Standing tall and mighty is not the way we get close to babies. Instead, they invite us to drop our defenses and become vulnerable.
Epiphany is not only God showing who Jesus is to the world. It is also revealing who we are to God: Beloved daughters and sons, loved beyond what we dare to believe. Today, the life of the world is being revealed. And how to become more fully human by bowing down.
Draw me more deeply Lord into your gentle and humble heart, that I may see myself and others with your delight and tenderness.