The Epiphany of the Lord
Feast Day: Sunday Between January 2 and 8
Imagine traveling hundreds of miles by camel.
No GPS.
No hotel reservations.
Just a star.
And at the end of the trip, you find a baby in a humble house.
And you kneel down.
Christ, the Light of the nations, have mercy on us.
Who Were the Magi?
St. Matthew calls them “wise men from the east.”
They were probably scholars who studied the stars, possibly from Persia or Babylon.
Tradition later gave them names, Caspar, Melchior, and Balthasar, and often calls them kings.
The Bible does not tell us how many there were.
We say three because they brought three gifts.
Following the Star
When they arrived in Jerusalem, they asked:
“Where is he that is born king of the Jews? For we have seen his star in the east, and are come to adore him.”
— Matthew 2:2, Douay-Rheims
King Herod was troubled.
The Magi were joyful.
Same news, two very different hearts.
Three Gifts
“And entering into the house, they found the child with Mary his mother, and falling down they adored him”
— Matthew 2:11, Douay-Rheims
Then they opened their treasures and offered gold, frankincense, and myrrh.
The Church Fathers saw meaning in each one.
Gold for a King.
Frankincense, used in worship, for God.
Myrrh, used in burial, for a Man who would die.
Three gifts, one Child, and the whole story of Jesus.
Christ for the Whole World
“Epiphany” comes from a Greek word meaning “manifestation” or “showing forth.”
On this feast, Jesus is shown to the Gentiles, the nations outside Israel.
The Magi are the first of countless people from every land who would come to worship Him.
If your family is not from Israel, the Magi are your ancestors in the faith.
Chalking the Door
In many Catholic homes, families bless their doors on Epiphany.
They write the year and the letters C, M, and B above the door in blessed chalk.
The letters stand for the traditional names of the Magi, and also for the Latin Christus mansionem benedicat: “May Christ bless this house.”
When Is It Celebrated?
The Epiphany was traditionally celebrated on January 6, the twelfth day after Christmas.
Many countries still keep that date.
In the United States, the Epiphany is celebrated on the Sunday between January 2 and January 8.
In 2027, it falls on January 3.
In 2028, it falls on January 2.
What the Epiphany Teaches Us
The Magi teach us to seek God with our whole hearts, even when the journey is long.
They teach us to worship, not just admire.
And they teach us to give Christ our best.
After meeting Him, the Bible says they went home “another way.”
Nobody meets Christ and stays the same.
When Is the Epiphany of the Lord?
The Catholic Church celebrates the Solemnity of the Epiphany of the Lord on January 6, or, in the United States, on the Sunday between January 2 and January 8.
Prayer Inspired by the Epiphany
Lord Jesus Christ,
You led the Magi to Yourself by the light of a star.
Lead us to You as well.
Give us their courage to seek,
their humility to kneel,
and their generosity to give You our best.
Shine Your light through us to the whole world.
Christ, the Light of the nations, have mercy on us. Amen.
