Posted on 01/06/2011 4:43:58 AM PST by cll
Today's Solemnity of the Epiphany celebrates the manifestation of Christ to the Magi, an event that St Matthew emphasizes greatly (cf. Mt 2: 1-12). His Gospel narrates that some "Magi" - probably Persian religious leaders - reached Jerusalem guided by a "star", a luminous, heavenly phenomenon which they interpreted as a sign of the birth of a new king of the Jews.
No one in the city knew anything; rather, the king in charge, Herod, remained very disturbed by the news and conceived the tragic design of the "slaughter of the innocents" to eliminate the newborn rival.
The Magi, instead, placed their trust in the Sacred Scriptures, in particular in the prophecy of Micah, according to which the Messiah would be born at Bethlehem, the city of David, situated about 10 kilometers south of Jerusalem (cf. Mi 5: 1).
They departed in that direction and saw the star anew and, full of joy, followed it until it stopped over a poor dwelling. They entered and found the Baby with Mary; they prostrated before him and, in homage of his royal dignity, they offered him gold, frankincense and myrrh.
Why is this happening so important? Because in it the adhesion of the pagan people to faith in Christ has begun to be fulfilled according to the promise made by God to Abraham, about which the Book of Genesis refers: "By you all the families of the earth shall bless themselves" (Gn 12: 3).
(Excerpt) Read more at vatican.va ...
The tree comes down tomorrow. Sigh.
“We three kings of Orient are”
Good song, all wrong.
When we were in Puerto Rico a few years ago, we saw a public manger scene sponsored by the local Coca Cola bottling company. We were amused to find that they had named the magi’s camels: Coke, Fanta and Sprite.
Feliz Dia de los Tres Reyes Magos, cll!
As the islanders say to their english speaking friends; “Haa pee tree kin dey!”
I love Epiphany (aside from the fact that I go to Spain a lot and it’s a really big day there!) and I wish one thing that BXVI would do is to stop the Church in America from celebrating it on the preceding Sunday. It takes away all the significance in time, the traditions of hundreds of generations of Catholics, the proper celebration of the feast of Christmas...well, I guess that’s enough.
!Feliz Dia de los Reyes a todos!
Oops, I forgot to explain. It’s a view of Kings Canyon National Park, which is named after the Three Kings.
I’m in awe. How beautiful...I didn’t know that. Thanks.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.
