Star of Epiphany

~~~ The Epiphany of the Lord ~~~

~~~ Isaiah 60:1-6 ~~~ Psalm 72 ~~~ Ephesians 3:2-3A, 5-6 ~~~

~~~ Matthew 2:1-12 ~~~

Lord, every nation on earth will adore you.

The magi arriving from the East inform King Herod

 that they have seen the star.

These wise men were traveling a great 

distance because of a star?

They were willing to make this

 journey to see an infant.

The birth of Jesus was an epiphany for king Herod.

He was fearful of losing his position of power...

he was afraid of losing his throne

to a baby,

How foolish was Herod,

for Jesus did not need or want his throne.

We saw his star at its rising

and have come to do him homage.

The three wise men had an epiphany too.

They brought their gifts, knelt at the side of the manger

and were changed.

They saw the newborn king...not draped in royal fabrics

seated on a gold gilded throne...

instead they saw a babe wrapped in swaddling cloth

sleeping in a food trough.

The wise men had an epiphany of humility.

They were moved by the simplicity of the Holy Family.

The wise men were so moved that they 

did not return to report  King Herod.

Somehow their epiphany included 

the desire to protect Jesus from harm.

“Go and search diligently for the child.

When you have found him, bring me word, 

that I too may go and do him homage.”

Their epiphany included the message

 in a dream not to return to Herod.

Herod wanted only to destroy this perceived threat...Jesus.

For the wise men they were overjoyed 

in their epiphany experience.

The Epiphany from Jesus was that he came 

for all of mankind not for just one group of people.

Jesus did not come for an exclusive group of people.

Jesus came for all of us.

We are all capable of having an epiphany experience.

Pay attention...aha moments come when you least expect them.

Moments of epiphany are moments of surprise.

May this new year be filled with little epiphanies

so that you will be better prepared for The Epiphany.

Blessings to fill your year.

~~~Peace~~~