Epiphany
Today is Epiphany, the twelfth day of Christmas marking the visit of the Magi to Jesus in Bethlehem. Much that is told of the Magi is legend. The names attributed to them, Balthasar, Gaspar, and Melchior are first mentioned in the middle ages. The Bible does not even list three, but as they brought three gifts, they are usually depicted as being three men, except in Eastern Christianity which speaks of 12 wise men. Scripture also does not refer to them as kings, that came in the Middle Ages thank to prophecies of kings bringing gifts to the Messiah.
One ancient tradition—more likely legend than fact—has Saint Thomas (the one often referred to as Doubting Thomas) baptizing the Magi who went on to become bishops and spread Christianity. The story goes on to say that they were scattered until, nearing their 100th birthdays, they once more saw the Star of Bethlehem and came together, dying soon after. The Cathedral in Cologne, Germany boasts the bones of the wise men in a shrine.
What is likely behind both the legend and the shrine is the desire to round off the stories of all those who came in contact with Jesus, bringing them into the Christian fold. Is it diconcerting to hear of the Magi, John the Baptist and others who seem to know who Jesus is and yet do not apparently become Christ followers?
Epiphany means "showing" or "revealing" and it describes an "Aha moment" when you finally understand something. No matter what became of the Magi, the desire to see them converted, baptized and out preaching the Gospel can beg the question, "Can we come to such an aha moment and walk away from it as if we had experienced nothing?" How do we hold on to our own epiphanic moments?
In the archives are the sermon: What if we don't want to adore him? which was written in the week of the southeast Asian tsunami and this week's Tribune & Georgian religion column Come Let Us Adore Him
Note:
Our labyrinth is available for prayer today from 4-6 p.m. and tomorrow from 10 a.m. to 12 noon. Then those who are interested will gather tomorrow at 12 to clean the church and reset the chairs for worship.
One ancient tradition—more likely legend than fact—has Saint Thomas (the one often referred to as Doubting Thomas) baptizing the Magi who went on to become bishops and spread Christianity. The story goes on to say that they were scattered until, nearing their 100th birthdays, they once more saw the Star of Bethlehem and came together, dying soon after. The Cathedral in Cologne, Germany boasts the bones of the wise men in a shrine. What is likely behind both the legend and the shrine is the desire to round off the stories of all those who came in contact with Jesus, bringing them into the Christian fold. Is it diconcerting to hear of the Magi, John the Baptist and others who seem to know who Jesus is and yet do not apparently become Christ followers?
Epiphany means "showing" or "revealing" and it describes an "Aha moment" when you finally understand something. No matter what became of the Magi, the desire to see them converted, baptized and out preaching the Gospel can beg the question, "Can we come to such an aha moment and walk away from it as if we had experienced nothing?" How do we hold on to our own epiphanic moments?
In the archives are the sermon: What if we don't want to adore him? which was written in the week of the southeast Asian tsunami and this week's Tribune & Georgian religion column Come Let Us Adore Him
Note:
Our labyrinth is available for prayer today from 4-6 p.m. and tomorrow from 10 a.m. to 12 noon. Then those who are interested will gather tomorrow at 12 to clean the church and reset the chairs for worship.
posted by King of Peace @ Friday, January 06, 2006
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