Epiphany Reflection - 9th January 2023

wise men or more? Perhaps wise women, too, were among the Magi who sought the messiah and, in seeking, saw and followed the star which eventually led them to a small house and a small family and a small boy living in a small town: Bethlehem. Where exactly in the East did they travel from? We don’t know, but we do know they came from afar, giving time and trust and treasure, following a star which led them to the child, Jesus, born King of the Jews.

Isaiah 60:1-3

Arise, shine; for your light has come,

   and the glory of the Lord has risen upon you.

2 For darkness shall cover the earth,

   and thick darkness the peoples;

but the Lord will arise upon you,

   and his glory will appear over you.

3 Nations shall come to your light,

   and kings to the brightness of your dawn.

This year, the journey of the Magi has inspired me afresh. They bring the reminder that everyone from near (the Jews, the shepherds) and far (the Stargazers, the wise Magi from the East) are welcome to come and worship Jesus, Christ and King. I am reminded that God revealed himself to the Magi in a way that they could understand, in the place where they lived and worked, in a culture which was different from the Jewish culture. Many people must have seen the star, but they were the ones who risked everything to follow it, not quite knowing where they were going. We know they took a few wrong turns along the way, putting themselves and the Christ-child in danger. Was it all worth it?

Matthew 2:10-11

When they saw that the star had stopped, they were overwhelmed with joy. On entering the house, they saw the child with Mary his mother; and they knelt down and paid him homage. Then, opening their treasure-chests, they offered him gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh.

The overwhelming joy, the chance to worship and offer gifts of immense worth and of great meaning, made the journey one they would treasure forever: gold for a king, frankincense for prayer and the healing and myrrh, a burial herb - a gift that no-one would ever give to a tiny child, except those who understood that suffering and death was part of his journey.

I love the tradition of exchanging gifts and the ‘Chalking of the Door’ which is practised by many European and Orthodox Christians on 6th January, the feast of the Epiphany. As well as the giving and receiving of gifts and enjoying a feast together in the way that we do at Christmas, they chalk these symbols over their doors:

20 + C + M + B + 23

Can you guess what it means? The first and last numbers simply refer to the current year: 2023. The letters CMB come from the traditional names for the kings: Caspar, Melchior and Balthazar. Some also suggest that the stand for ‘Christus Mansionem Benedicat’ which means ‘May God bless this dwelling’. At the gathering of family and friends to chalk the door, they pray prayers of blessing such as these:

Loving God, bless this household, May we be blessed with health, goodness of heart, gentleness, and the gift of your presence. We ask this through Christ our Saviour, Amen.

Bless this house and all who inhabit it. Fill us with the light of Christ, that our concern for others may reflect your love. Amen

May you and your household know the blessing of Christ’s love and the revelation of his guiding light as you walk through 2023.

Collect for Epiphany

Creator of the heavens,

who led the Magi by a star

to worship the Christ-child:

guide and sustain us,

that we may find our journey’s end

in Jesus Christ our Lord.