We celebrated Christmas with our children and grandchildren on New Year's Eve and New Year's Day. Weird time? Well, not really. It was still during Christmastide - the twelve days of Christmas beginning with the birth of Christ and ending twelve days later with Epiphany.
Today, January 6, is the feast day of Epiphany, Three Kings Day, or the Twelfth Day of Christmas. The word epiphany means “manifestation” or “revelation" and is commonly linked in Western Christianity with the visit of the wise men (Magi) to the Christ child. Through the Magi, Christ revealed himself to the gentiles.
I think there is a monumental parallel between the journey of the wise men as led by a bright star to find the Christ Child and our own journey to find Christ and His leading us via the Light of Life.
God gave us a light, Jesus, to enable us to come out of the darkness and live eternally in right relationship with Him. In view of such a merciful offering, what gifts shall we come bearing for the Christ Child?
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For Those Who Have Far to Travel
An Epiphany Blessing
If you could see
the journey whole
you might never
undertake it;
might never dare
the first step
that propels you
from the place
you have known
toward the place
you know not.Call it
one of the mercies
of the road:
that we see it
only by stages
as it opens
before us,
as it comes into
our keeping
step by
single step.There is nothing
for it
but to go
and by our going
take the vows
the pilgrim takes:to be faithful to
the next step;
to rely on more
than the map;
to heed the signposts
of intuition and dream;
to follow the star
that only you
will recognize;to keep an open eye
for the wonders that
attend the path;
to press on
beyond distractions
beyond fatigue
beyond what would
tempt you
from the way.There are vows
that only you
will know;
the secret promises
for your particular path
and the new ones
you will need to make
when the road
is revealed
by turns
you could not
have foreseen.Keep them, break them,
make them again:
each promise becomes
part of the path;
each choice creates
the road
that will take you
to the place
where at last
you will kneelto offer the gift
most needed—
the gift that only you
can give—
before turning to go
home by
another way.Adoration of the Magi, Edward Burne-Jones, 1887, tapestry, England
What gift will you give —
that only you can give —
to the Christ Child this year?
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