Epiphany! (Probably)
Happy Epiphany, probably! In much of the world, and for much of time, today is celebrated as the great Solemnity of the Epiphany, even if many in the United States and Canada celebrated it this past Sunday. In a sense, the Feast of the Epiphany is the culmination (if not quite the end) of the Christmas Season. It was once a much more celebrated feast than it is now. In fact, it once had its own Octave. Like many others, I’d love to see that restored.
In the popular imagination, the Feast of the Epiphany is all about the Magi from the East who traveled to worship the Christ child and gift him gold, frankincense, and myrrh.
But that’s not the whole story, for the Epiphany actually celebrates three separate events, only one of which is Magi with their three gifts.
In my Monastic Diurnal, this morning’s Benedictus antiphon speaks of all three:
Each of these events is an epiphany:
- In the River Jordan, Christ is revealed as the Son of God.
- In the story of the pilgrim Magi, Christ is revealed as the Light to the Gentiles.
- In the wedding feast at Cana, Christ is revealed as a Worker of Miracles.
Notice first the thread throughout of the wedding of Christ the bridegroom with the Church, His spouse.
Then take a look at these three epiphanies. It’s as if Christ is teaching us who He is a step at a time; as our understanding deepens, a new revelation is granted us.
And really, if you look at Salvation history, this is exactly how God operates, bringing along His people step by step into a deeper understanding and an ever more moral and spiritual state.
God teaches us as a Father should, by bringing us along bit by bit. You need to know your letters before you can learn to read. You need to know how to read before you can learn to write a novel. Step by step. Epiphany by epiphany.
One of the beautiful traditions on the Epiphany is the blessing of chalk at Mass, and then the house blessing that follows. You can read more about the tradition here. You may have seen something like this chalked above a door:
+20+C+M+B+21+
As the article says,
The letters C, M, B have two meanings:
• They are the initials of the traditional names of the three magi: Caspar, Melchior, and Balthazar.
• They also abbreviate the Latin words Christus Mansionem Benedicat, “May Christ bless this house.”The “+” signs represent the cross and 2021 is the year.
The article gives the accompanying prayers, though you may also find a longer version in the book Catholic Household Blessings and Prayers.
A very blessed Feast of Epiphany to all of you, whenever you celebrate it!
