By Fr. Peter Rogers, OP
Special to the Intermountain Catholic
SALT LAKE CITY - The Solemnity of the Epiphany is the celebration of the manifestation of our Lord, the baby Jesus, to the three Wise Men, or Magi. The Magi came from the East following the star of the newborn king, seeking the baby Jesus. This star was a luminous, heavenly phenomenon which the Magi saw as a sign of the birth of the new king. They followed that star with great anticipation, great excitement, with great joy. In Bethlehem they came to the place that the star shone down upon and were overjoyed to find the baby Jesus in the arms of his mother, Mary. In great reverence and awe they prostrated and presented him with their precious gifts of gold, incense and myrrh.
These gifts brought by the Magi were worthy of a king. The gift of gold was given to Jesus, the King of all nations. The gift of incense was given to Jesus the Son of God; smoke, like our prayers, rising up to God. The gift of myrrh was given to Jesus to be anointed at his burial. These gifts, as precious as they are, remind us today of God's most precious gift to us - the gift of his one and only Son.
On Epiphany, these Magi bearing gifts and the star they followed are found in nativity scenes in Catholic churches and Catholic homes throughout the world. The Magi are displayed in our nativity scenes to represent the first of all peoples to be led to Jesus, and the first to be the people of the new Church established on the faith of Jesus. This new Church is us today, the community of faith gathered together to journey toward the star, the light of Christ. This light of Christ is what saves us from our sins and brings us to eternal salvation with our heavenly Father. This is what we celebrate with great joy on this solemnity of Epiphany. We not only celebrate this great solemnity at church, but we can also celebrate at home.
You and your family may bless your home in the new calendar year with an inscription reminding us of how we are to follow the star of the newborn King as did the Magi. The inscription represents the new calendar year, and C M B, which are the initials for the three Magi, Caspar, Melchior, and Balthasar. These letters also stand for Christus Mansionem Benedicat, which means "Christ, bless this home." Take a piece of blessed chalk (you may ask your parish priest to bless this chalk for you) and write this inscription on the mantel above the doorway of your home: 20+C+M+B+10. This inscription may remain above your doorway until Pentecost.
Another custom you may practice at home with your nativity scene is to place the Magi at a distance from the nativity set. The Magi are moved a bit closer to the manger crib every day from Christmas Day until Epiphany, representing the Magi following the star and gradually coming closer and closer to the newborn King in Bethlehem.
As we celebrate this great solemnity of Epiphany in church and at home, may we be reminded that we must be like the Magi and follow the Star leading us to our Lord, Jesus Christ, and offer a gift to Jesus - the gift of ourselves. May the Lord's Epiphany Star continue to shine in our hearts and show us the way to the truth, the love, and the peace of Jesus Christ, present everyday of our lives.
Fr. Peter Rogers, OP, is pastor of St. Catherine of Siena Catholic Newman Center.
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