Please read the passage before the homily.
Zoroastrians follow an ancient religion. Some think that the magi were Zoroastrians. They came from the East, from the rising of the sun. They represented the non-Jewish, pagan peoples of the world who eventually would come to recognize Christ as Son of God.
We are called to recognize all people of the world as people like the magi. They come from the East, from the West, from the north and the South for us to share with them the treasures of the Child who welcomed the original magi.
The magi were challenged to see in the child in the house as God. We are challenged to see in the stranger one of the magi. If we have found the child, then we must be like Joseph and Mary and make the Child known to all passersby.
It is Epiphany, which name means revelation. It is time for us to make our faith in Christ manifest. Now is not the time to have our faith gift-wrapped; it is time for unwrapping and revealing for all to see the wonders God has revealed by coming into our world.
Zoroastrians, Taoists, Muslims, atheists, Chinese, gay people, and all else are seeking to find the child and adore him. Jewish people are guardians of the Holy Word of God. The Orthodox have3 the same seven sacraments, bishops, priests, and deacons that we Catholic have. Protestant share the same beliefs in Christ that we do. All these have place in our entourage assembling to celebrate the Child of the Epiphany.It is Epiphany and the world is full of the stranger seeking Christ for healing of body, or spirit. Like Christ in the place where Christ was, we are the one who welcome the stranger and accept the gifts they bring, whether it be gold, frankincense and myrrh or their sorrows, complaints and fears.