Feast of Epiphany of the Lord
My dear brothers and sisters in Jesus Christ,
There is a legend of the Robin bird. When Jesus was born in Bethlehem, many came to witness the divine event, having been led there by a wondrous star that came and shone over a humble place where the Holy Family rested. A little robin passing that night was also led to the stable by the star.
There the robin saw the glorious infant surrounded by worshippers. No one noticed the plain brown bird. By and by, when the visitors and Magi left, the baby slept, and Joseph built a fire to keep the family warm through the Night, But Joseph and Mary fell asleep and the fire died down.
Seeing this, the robin bird swooped in and fanned the fire with his wings until the coals began to blaze warmly again. His breast grew red with the heat, but he stayed until morning, keeping the fire aglow. Baby Jesus woke and smiled at the robin.
And that is why, today, the bird robin is known for its cherry red breast- a symbol of faithful service.
Today we celebrate the feast of Epiphany of the Lord.The word Epiphany comes from the Greek meaning “to appear” or “to be shown forth” According to Roman Catholic tradition, Epiphany signifies the first appearance of Christ to the gentiles in the story of the visit of the three wise men to the divine infant Jesus. As the three wise men represent all the known peoples of the world, this signifies an appearance to the entire world, not just a few who call themselves Christians. Sometimes the three men represent the three ages of youth, middle age, and old age, sometimes the three known continents. since there were three gifts, it was assumed that they were three. According to medieval legends, the three Wiseman were named Melchior Balthazar and Gaspar. Each of them came from a different culture: Melchior was Asian, Balthazar was Persian and Gaspar was Ethiopian, thus representing the three races known to the old world. These three priest-kings and wise men brought royal gifts to the divine infant: gold, frankincense and myrrh. Melchior brought a golden cup, which, according to legend, was preserved by the Blessed Virgin Mary and was the same cup used in the institution of the Holy Eucharist. Balthazar brought a gold box of frankincense. Gaspar brought a curiously chased flask of myrrh, royal embalming oil.
The reaction of the Magi is interesting too…… when they enter the presence of God… revealed in his humble baby in a manger… they immediately open up treasures chests filled with gifts…… this must be our reaction too, in the presence of God….. when we come before the presence of Jesus… we too must open up our hearts and offer God our gifts…… the response of a person to the revelation of God’s presence is one of openness, generosity and service………
He receives three mysterious gifts: gold, frankincense and myrrh. What do they signify?
Second century writer, Irenaeus of Lyon, gave the most likely interpretation: the gifts signify Jesus’ kingship, his Godhead and his sacrificial death. It is no surprise that gold, the most precious of metals, symbolizes royalty. Frankincense, an aromatic substance brought from far away Nubia, was burned before the Holy of Holies. It signifies Jesus’ divine nature. Myrrh, also brought from Africa, formed part of a preservative ointment. It represents Jesus’ sacrificial death.
The gift of gold symbolizes the kingship of Christ, which represents our own true royal Selfhood and our giving of love and service as directed and commanded by that Self. The gift of frankincense symbolizes the Godhead of Christ and our own gifts of honor and reverence to our indwelling Divinity. The gift of myrrh is a prophecy of the death and burial of the earthly body of Christ, which represents our understanding and empathy for the suffering of humanity.
The wise men’s journey of a thousand miles or more westwards from Persia which could have taken three months is really a symbol of the inward journey they made in their hearts, a journey from paganism to belief in Jesus as the Savior of the world. Indeed not just the wise men but all of us are on a journey to get closer to Jesus our Savior. Our journey may not be from reading stars and consulting horoscopes but we each are called to allow Jesus be Lord of each part of our lives, not just when it suits us. We each have a journey to make to Jesus because none of us is yet fully converted and each of us has corners in our hearts and lives in need of Jesus’ healing and redemption. Like the wise men we too are relying on the grace of God to lead us to the light of Jesus our Savior.
The Spanish poet Lope de Vega wrote about a beautiful poem about this. Its title is: La llegada de los reyes magos. The arrival of the Magi Kings. Lope de Vega describes how the star guided them in the dark night, but when they found Jesus, the stars faded.
You Kings, who come from the East,are searching the night skylooking at the their beautiful lights.
Do not follow them nowfor where the sun isthe stars have no light.
The Child shines upon you.And where the sun isthe stars have no light.
In the West, in the middle Ages the houses were blessed on Epiphany. Holy water was sprinkled in each room. The father of the house took the blessed chalk and wrote over every room that led outside: AD 20+C+M+B+08 which are for the Latin Christus Mansionem Benedicat (Christ bless this house). At the same time the letters are the first letters of the names of the wise men: Caspar, Melchior and Balthasar. which also stands for "Anno Domini 2008-- Caspar, Melchior, Balthasar" and means "The three Holy Kings, Caspar, Melchior, Balthasar, in the year of Our Lord, 2008" or whatever the year may be. This tradition of blessing the doorways symbolizes the family's commitment to welcome Christ into their homes on a daily basis through the year.
The quest of the Magi reminds us that God is truly with us. Sometimes during our journey, clarity disappears and we begin to doubt. Let us remember that Jesus is always with us. He is Emmanuel, God with us. Like the shining star, He is present in the tabernacle, just as He was present in the manger of Bethlehem. Let us go Him and Bless and adore him today.
In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.
Amen.
My dear brothers and sisters in Jesus Christ,
There is a legend of the Robin bird. When Jesus was born in Bethlehem, many came to witness the divine event, having been led there by a wondrous star that came and shone over a humble place where the Holy Family rested. A little robin passing that night was also led to the stable by the star.
There the robin saw the glorious infant surrounded by worshippers. No one noticed the plain brown bird. By and by, when the visitors and Magi left, the baby slept, and Joseph built a fire to keep the family warm through the Night, But Joseph and Mary fell asleep and the fire died down.
Seeing this, the robin bird swooped in and fanned the fire with his wings until the coals began to blaze warmly again. His breast grew red with the heat, but he stayed until morning, keeping the fire aglow. Baby Jesus woke and smiled at the robin.
And that is why, today, the bird robin is known for its cherry red breast- a symbol of faithful service.
Today we celebrate the feast of Epiphany of the Lord.The word Epiphany comes from the Greek meaning “to appear” or “to be shown forth” According to Roman Catholic tradition, Epiphany signifies the first appearance of Christ to the gentiles in the story of the visit of the three wise men to the divine infant Jesus. As the three wise men represent all the known peoples of the world, this signifies an appearance to the entire world, not just a few who call themselves Christians. Sometimes the three men represent the three ages of youth, middle age, and old age, sometimes the three known continents. since there were three gifts, it was assumed that they were three. According to medieval legends, the three Wiseman were named Melchior Balthazar and Gaspar. Each of them came from a different culture: Melchior was Asian, Balthazar was Persian and Gaspar was Ethiopian, thus representing the three races known to the old world. These three priest-kings and wise men brought royal gifts to the divine infant: gold, frankincense and myrrh. Melchior brought a golden cup, which, according to legend, was preserved by the Blessed Virgin Mary and was the same cup used in the institution of the Holy Eucharist. Balthazar brought a gold box of frankincense. Gaspar brought a curiously chased flask of myrrh, royal embalming oil.
The reaction of the Magi is interesting too…… when they enter the presence of God… revealed in his humble baby in a manger… they immediately open up treasures chests filled with gifts…… this must be our reaction too, in the presence of God….. when we come before the presence of Jesus… we too must open up our hearts and offer God our gifts…… the response of a person to the revelation of God’s presence is one of openness, generosity and service………
He receives three mysterious gifts: gold, frankincense and myrrh. What do they signify?
Second century writer, Irenaeus of Lyon, gave the most likely interpretation: the gifts signify Jesus’ kingship, his Godhead and his sacrificial death. It is no surprise that gold, the most precious of metals, symbolizes royalty. Frankincense, an aromatic substance brought from far away Nubia, was burned before the Holy of Holies. It signifies Jesus’ divine nature. Myrrh, also brought from Africa, formed part of a preservative ointment. It represents Jesus’ sacrificial death.
The gift of gold symbolizes the kingship of Christ, which represents our own true royal Selfhood and our giving of love and service as directed and commanded by that Self. The gift of frankincense symbolizes the Godhead of Christ and our own gifts of honor and reverence to our indwelling Divinity. The gift of myrrh is a prophecy of the death and burial of the earthly body of Christ, which represents our understanding and empathy for the suffering of humanity.
The wise men’s journey of a thousand miles or more westwards from Persia which could have taken three months is really a symbol of the inward journey they made in their hearts, a journey from paganism to belief in Jesus as the Savior of the world. Indeed not just the wise men but all of us are on a journey to get closer to Jesus our Savior. Our journey may not be from reading stars and consulting horoscopes but we each are called to allow Jesus be Lord of each part of our lives, not just when it suits us. We each have a journey to make to Jesus because none of us is yet fully converted and each of us has corners in our hearts and lives in need of Jesus’ healing and redemption. Like the wise men we too are relying on the grace of God to lead us to the light of Jesus our Savior.
The Spanish poet Lope de Vega wrote about a beautiful poem about this. Its title is: La llegada de los reyes magos. The arrival of the Magi Kings. Lope de Vega describes how the star guided them in the dark night, but when they found Jesus, the stars faded.
You Kings, who come from the East,are searching the night skylooking at the their beautiful lights.
Do not follow them nowfor where the sun isthe stars have no light.
The Child shines upon you.And where the sun isthe stars have no light.
In the West, in the middle Ages the houses were blessed on Epiphany. Holy water was sprinkled in each room. The father of the house took the blessed chalk and wrote over every room that led outside: AD 20+C+M+B+08 which are for the Latin Christus Mansionem Benedicat (Christ bless this house). At the same time the letters are the first letters of the names of the wise men: Caspar, Melchior and Balthasar. which also stands for "Anno Domini 2008-- Caspar, Melchior, Balthasar" and means "The three Holy Kings, Caspar, Melchior, Balthasar, in the year of Our Lord, 2008" or whatever the year may be. This tradition of blessing the doorways symbolizes the family's commitment to welcome Christ into their homes on a daily basis through the year.
The quest of the Magi reminds us that God is truly with us. Sometimes during our journey, clarity disappears and we begin to doubt. Let us remember that Jesus is always with us. He is Emmanuel, God with us. Like the shining star, He is present in the tabernacle, just as He was present in the manger of Bethlehem. Let us go Him and Bless and adore him today.
In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.
Amen.
No comments:
Post a Comment