Epiphany

In Middle of Christmas: Happy Epiphany
Merry Christmas!  What?!  But Advent is over. Yes, indeed Advent which is our preparation for the Lord's coming is done. Now he has arrived! It's a boy! He's a priest. He's a king. He's human. He's divine. All the purposes of Advent is fulfilled as the young messiah is revealed to be the light of all nations. This wondrous revelation is what we call The Epiphany which we celebrate as an integral part of Christmas season. 

At yesterday's mass we celebrated the Solemnity of the Epiphany. Epiphany is celebrated either on January 6 or, according to the decision of the episcopal conference, on the Sunday between January 2 and January 8.  

My husband and I had the honor of explaining Epiphany to a group of pre-K to third graders for Children's Liturgy during morning mass. Most of us have heard the story 'the Three Kings' since we were their age. As a child, I understood the jist of it but I never understood the deeper meaning behind the three gifts. Why gold, frankincense, and myrrh?  

Quick refresher:  

• Gold symbolizes Jesus's royalty. He is the King of the Kings, King of Heaven & Earth
• Frankincense represents Jesus's priesthood. He is the highest priest, as the first priest of the Church, he taught God's Word and offered sacraments. 
• Myrrh points to Jesus's crucifixion. He was willing to die for our sins. Myrrh is a perfumed ointment used by Hebrews during burial preparations. 
• The kings were learned men from different nations, representing the fact that Jesus came to save all believers, including gentiles. 

Historically, in the East Epiphany (Jan 6) was the designated day to celebrate the Nativity. It was "introduced at Rome in the second half of the sixth century and became the complement and, so to say, the crown of the Christmas festival."  To the present, Catholics in Spanish-influenced cultures still exchanged gifts on this twelfth day of Christmas, known as Three Kings Day. In France, they celebrate with king cakes that have small prize, a baby Jesus figure baked inside. 

The Roman Catholic Church's liturgical calendar indicates that next Sunday, January 12th is the end of the Christmas season. It concludes with the Feast of the Baptism of the Lord. So that gives us one more week to feast, exchange gifts, or celebrate the Lord's birth. More importantly, now that the secular world has concluded their hustle and bustle, there is time to reflect on the AWESOMENESS of the Nativity. God sent us the greatest gift of all, Himself...when He sent his Son as our Savior. So go on. Continue joyfully to seek Him in your bible reading, in adoration, in your king cake!