The Solemnity of the Epiphany
We celebrate the Epiphany, the feast in which God reveals that he has come for the redemption of all peoples, Jews and Gentiles alike. The Magi, Caspar, Melchior and Balthasar, set out on a journey following the star for direction, light, and joy. They sought direction to find the Christ child, light and understanding to recognize his divinity and the joy of knowing that they were doing God’s will. The gifts they carried and presented were emblematic of his kingship (gold), priesthood(frankincense) and mortality(myrrh).
It is a Christian tradition to mark the doorway of our homes with the symbols of 20+C+B+M+12 in which the numbers represent the year and the initials of the Magi and the abbreviated Latin phrase Christus mansionem benedicat: “May Christ bless the house.”