528. The Epiphany is the manifestation of Jesus as Messiah of Israel, Son of God and Saviour of the world. the great feast of Epiphany celebrates the adoration of Jesus by the wise men (magi) from the East, together with his baptism in the Jordan and the wedding feast at Cana in Galilee.212 In the magi, representatives of the neighbouring pagan religions, the Gospel sees the first-fruits of the nations, who welcome the good news of salvation through the Incarnation. the magi’s coming to Jerusalem in order to pay homage to the king of the Jews shows that they seek in Israel, in the messianic light of the star of David, the one who will be king of the nations.213 Their coming means that pagans can discover Jesus and worship him as Son of God and Saviour of the world only by turning towards the Jews and receiving from them the messianic promise as contained in the Old Testament.214 The Epiphany shows that “the full number of the nations” now takes its “place in the family of the patriarchs”, and acquires Israelitica dignitas215 (is made “worthy of the heritage of Israel”).
Aprofunde seus conhecimentos
88. What does the Council of Chalcedon (in the year 451) teach in this regard?
6. What does God reveal to man?
208. What is the particular judgment?
433. Why is the Christian moral life indispensable for the proclamation of the Gospel?
97. How does Mary cooperate in the divine plan of salvation?
453. How does one keep Sunday holy?
Acesse nossos estudos biblicos:
What is the example of faith that the poor widow gives us in Luke 21:1-4?
What can we learn about the theology of suffering from the story of Job described in Job 1:1-22?
What is the image of God as shepherd in Ezekiel 34?
What is the importance of faith in the healing of blind Bartimaeus, described in Matthew 20:29-34?
What is the significance of Aeneas’ healing and Dorcas’ resurrection in Acts 9:32-43?
What do Daniel’s visions of the ram and the goat in Daniel 8 mean?
What does it mean to submit to God’s discipline, according to Hebrews 12:5-11?
