Epiphany Sunday

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Today is Saturday the 4 and Sunday the 5 January, the Feast of the Epiphany, beginning the Second Week of Christmas.

Salt of the Sound sing, ‘Star of Wonder’.

This weekend’s reading is from the Gospel of Matthew.

Wise men from the East are a sign that the Christ-child has come for all nations, not just for the chosen people.  What were they looking for?  Why did they travel so far?

Perhaps their gifts might give us a clue:  Gold – riches, a sign of power and kingship; Frankincense – burnt for its fragrant smoke to rise to God; Myrrh – an ointment used to anoint bodies in death.  What do their gifts tell you about their motives for making the journey?

What did the wise men see when they entered the poor place in Bethlehem that overwhelmed them with joy?  Why were they willing to do homage to a poor woman’s baby?  What did they see in their wisdom?

As you listen again, place yourself in this scene – see everything from the point of view of the wise men, or Mary, Joseph, maybe even Jesus. Or just as yourself in the background of it all.

In these last few moments of prayer, ask God for the wisdom to recognise in this poor mother and child what the wise men saw. To see beyond what is presented to us at face value, and see this story’s true worth.