those who seek Christ also find wisdom, God’s wisdom of love beyond imagining and peace beyond understanding

The Epiphany of Our Lord serves as bridge between the birth of Christ and his Passion.  The Epiphany itself (January 6) is an ancient celebration that originally drew together several themes:  The birth of Jesus, the coming of the Magi (the wise ones from the east), the baptism of Jesus in the Jordan, and his first miracle at Cana, and is almost certainly older than Christmas as we know it.  The colour for Epiphany and the days following, through the Baptism of our Lord (the first Sunday after the Epiphany, this year 13 January), remains white, a continuation of the Christmas spirit and mood.  In the weeks that follow, a transitional time, the colour is green, not associated with any specific festival, and so called Ordinary Time, but green suggesting spiritual growth.  Transfiguration Sunday is the last Sunday before Ash Wednesday, the beginning of Lent, and the colour is again white, a reminder of the blazing glory seen on the mountaintop.

The Magi came to see the King of kings, and they brought three gifts, which is how the legend developed with three wise men from the East; three gifts, three Magi.  Maybe you’ve heard, or read, or even seen on a bumper sticker:  Wise Men Still Seek Him.  Well, it’s true, except that it’s more inclusive than that, and, I would add, those who seek Christ also find wisdom, God’s wisdom of love beyond imagining and peace beyond understanding.  Dear friends, may the light of Christ shining in the star of Epiphany enlighten your lives with that wisdom and that peace.  Thanks be to God!