Pages

Friday, January 6, 2012

3 Kings Day (Epiphany)



Today in many nations the Solemnity of the Epiphany is celebrated.  A day that has its origin in the Eastern rite highlighting the revelation of God as a human baby boy.

The "Three Kings" or Magi (Wise men) traveled a long distance to find the child God.  God used His own cosmic version of a GPS to guide them with a bright star.  This star could have been a comet, Jupiter, Venus or Saturn, some believe it may have been a Stella Nova - when stars illuminate brightly for a brief moment and then return to their normal brightness.

The Magi represents all of the world with its many races and ethnicity.  Each come to bring gifts to the Child God Jesus Christ, the gifts of Gold, Frankincense and Myrrh.   The gifts often are viewed as symbols of Christ's Royalty, Divinity, and Death.  Others view them as Faith, Hope and Charity.  

They were men of science showing that science too is subject to God.  Faith and Reason are not enemies.  Science is important alongside Faith.  Without the scientific knowledge of the stars that these men possessed, they would not have found the child Jesus.  The Magi represents all of humanity regardless of race, gender, ethnicity, religion and scientific views.  All belong to God and are subject to God.   

Many Catholic nations, in particular Hispanic ones celebrate this day as they would Christmas.  Children are told to leave some grass or hay under their beds, in their shoes or in a box so that the Wise men can come on their camels and bring them gifts.

Let us take this day to remember that God became man to save us all.  Let us offer Him the gifts of our Faith, Hope and Love.  






Feliz Dia de los Reyes Magos!  Happy Three Kings Day!