We Three Kings of Orient Are

We all to love to sing the famous Christmas carol “We Three Kings of Orient Are” but it is interesting to note that they were almost certainly not kings, and they were likely not three.  But they did come from the east, so at least that part is right!  The Bible does not say that they were kings nor that they were three.  This tradition developed because they brought three gifts, and they were gifts that only a king or rich man could afford.  Eastern tradition holds that there were twelve magi and that they arrived twelve days after Jesus’s birth.  I don’t think there would be enough room in our manger for twelve!  The three gifts were not only rich but richly symbolic: gold for a King (Jesus is certainly the King), Frankincense for God and Myrrh because He was born to die for us.  

The three things I like to stress on the Feast of the Epiphany are: 1.  Jesus is the King and Savior of the world.  Every person who ever lived and would ever live, Jesus died for them because He wants them in Heaven.  Note that the magi were the first non-Jews to worship Him.   2.  We are all on a journey to find Jesus Christ, and sometimes that journey is more comfortable than at other times.  3.  God is calling us to be “stars” for others; to become the best Christian version of ourselves so that we can lighten the way for others to find Jesus.  

I will be on a small journey myself this coming week.  I will be away for a few days of vacation.  Thank you to Fr. Jerry Ragan for covering the parish and all the Masses this weekend, during the week and also next weekend.  I will return on January 12^th.  

We celebrate the Twelve Days of Christmas beginning Dec 25^th until The Epiphany.  In today’s liturgical calendar, we celebrate the Epiphany on the closest Sunday between January 2 and January 8^th, even though it will not usually be exactly 12 days.  Our tradition is to keep celebrating Christmas, and not take down our decorations until the Epiphany.  

Glory to God in the Highest!  Christ is born for us.  We three kings of Orient are.

Merry Christmas, 

Fr. Brett Brannen

Pastor