What I love about the story of Epiphany are the magi searching for knowledge. They used cutting edge science that was available to them to search for God among man. They were foreigners who had probably studied the Hebrew scriptures and were open to wisdom from a land other than their own.
They traveled to Bethlehem and brought news of the Savior born among the Jews to their home countries. They prefigured Jesus' own attitude towards the power structure of His day by following the dream given to them by God and not revealing to Herod the whereabouts of Jesus.
They were the first gentile Christians and were a sign to us that all are loved by God.
The word "epiphany" means to have a revelation. The magi were constantly seeking wisdom and this led them to God. Let each of us follow their example.
Blessing the House
An Epiphany tradition in some parishes is to hand out blessed chalk to the congregation who then write above every door in their home 20 C+M+B 11. This stands for the first 2 numbers of the year, the names of each of the three kings (Caspar, Melchior and Balthazar) and the last 2 numbers of the year. The letters also stand for Christus Mansionem Benedicat which is Latin for "Christ, bless this house".
Have a happy Epiphany and a joyful 2011!!
5 comments:
really nice post. thanks for the wishes for the new year!
I have never heard of this tradition. I'm all for blessing your home!
I like the idea too. It makes sense that it occurs near the beginning of the year.
That picture is gorgeous! Where did you get it? It reminds me of art in the late 1800s or early 1900s. I love to contemplate feasts through art. Thanks for this.
I can't find my original source but I it is Adoration of the Magi and is a tapestry by Edward Burne-Jones and William Morris. It is Art Nouveau, England, circa 1890.
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