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The Feast of the Epiphany

The Solemnity of the Epiphany is celebrated on the first Sunday after January 1 (January 2 to January 8). In some areas of the world, the Feast of the Epiphany is also called the Feast of the Holy Kings or Three King's Day.

In Christian tradition the Magi are known as the Three Wise Men, The Three Kings, or Kings from the east. The Magi belong to the priestly caste of Zoroastrian judicial astrologers from Ancient Persia. The Gospel of Matthew states that they came "from the east to Jerusalem" to worship the Christ, "born King of the Jews." Although not named in the Scriptures, Christian tradition holds these men to be named Caspar, Melchior and Balthasar.

They navigated by following what came to be known as the Star of Bethlehem. As they approached Jerusalem, Herod asked them to reveal where Jesus was, so that he might also “honor” him. Upon finding Jesus, the Magi gave the child Jesus an unspecified number of gifts, including three highly symbolic ones: gold, frankincense and myrrh. Because these three gifts were recorded, most believe there were three givers. However, the Scripture does not specify how many wise men came from the east.

The Magi returned home by a different route in order to avoid Herod’s deadly intentions for the child, which was revealed to them through a dream. Seizing on the new knowledge that they are looking for a child, Herod ordered to kill all the young children in Bethlehem, an act called the Massacre of the Innocents, in an attempt to eliminate a rival heir to his throne. Jesus and his family had, however, escaped to Egypt beforehand.

During the Feast of the Epiphany, homes are blessed with holy water, in remembrance of that blessed home where the Magi found the Child and his mother. The Feast of the Baptism of Jesus usually follows the celebration of this feast in the western church.

Epiphany Household Blessing

In the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
Let the Glory of Emmanuel be upon this household!
Legend gives these names to the Lord’s visitors:
Caspar, Melchior, and Balthasar.

Let us pray: Christus mansionem benedicat, “May Christ bless this house!” May Christ bless us all, now and forever.

All: Amen!

A reading for the Letter of Paul to the Ephesians (Eph 2:19-20):
19 So then you are no longer strangers and sojourners, but you are fellow citizens with the holy ones and members of the household of God,
20 built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the capstone.

The Word of the Lord.

In you we live and move and have our being.
Bless this room, O Lord. We pray through Christ our Lord.

You crown the year with bounty and goodness.
Bless this room, O Lord. We pray through Christ our Lord.

Holy wisdom, you call us to your banquet.
Bless this room, O Lord. We pray through Christ our Lord.

Keep watch over us as we sleep.
Bless this room, O Lord. We pray through Christ our Lord.

You cleanse us by the water and your Word.
Bless this room, O Lord. We pray through Christ our Lord.

Let us pray as Jesus taught us: Our Father…

Lord our God, we ask you to bless this household through all the days to come.
We praise you and thank you, Father, son, and the Holy Spirit, now and forever.

The Sunday Readings

The Holy Family of Jesus, Mary, and Joseph

From the Book of Isaiah: Is 60:1-6

Rise up in splendor, Jerusalem! Your light has come,
the glory of the Lord shines upon you.
See, darkness covers the earth,
and thick clouds cover the peoples;
but upon you the LORD shines,
and over you appears his glory.

Nations shall walk by your light,
and kings by your shining radiance.
Raise your eyes and look about;
they all gather and come to you:
your sons come from afar,
and your daughters in the arms of their nurses.

Then you shall be radiant at what you see,
your heart shall throb and overflow,
for the riches of the sea shall be emptied out before you,
the wealth of nations shall be brought to you.

Caravans of camels shall fill you,
dromedaries from Midian and Ephah;
all from Sheba shall come
bearing gold and frankincense,
and proclaiming the praises of the LORD.

The vision of the Lord enthroned in glory stamps an indelible character on Isaiah's ministry and provides the key to the understanding of his message. The majesty, holiness and glory of the Lord took possession of his spirit and, conversely, he gained a new awareness of human pettiness and sinfulness. The enormous abyss between God's sovereign holiness and man's sin overwhelmed the prophet. Only the purifying coal of the seraphim could cleanse his lips and prepare him for acceptance of the call: "Here I am, send me!"

From the Book of Psalms: Ps 72:1-2, 7-8, 10-11, 12-13

R. Lord, every nation on earth will adore you.
O God, with your judgment endow the king,
and with your justice, the king’s son;
He shall govern your people with justice
and your afflicted ones with judgment.

R. Lord, every nation on earth will adore you.
Justice shall flower in his days,
and profound peace, till the moon be no more.
May he rule from sea to sea,
and from the River to the ends of the earth.

R. Lord, every nation on earth will adore you.
The kings of Tarshish and the Isles shall offer gifts;
the kings of Arabia and Seba shall bring tribute.
All kings shall pay him homage,
all nations shall serve him.

R. Lord, every nation on earth will adore you.
For he shall rescue the poor when he cries out,
and the afflicted when he has no one to help him.
He shall have pity for the lowly and the poor;
the lives of the poor he shall save.

R. Lord, every nation on earth will adore you.

From the Letter to the Ephesians: Eph 3:2-3a, 5-6

Brothers and sisters:
You have heard of the stewardship of God’s grace
that was given to me for your benefit,
namely, that the mystery was made known to me by revelation.

It was not made known to people in other generations
as it has now been revealed
to his holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit:
that the Gentiles are coheirs, members of the same body,
and copartners in the promise in Christ Jesus through the gospel.

The majestic chapters of Ephesians emphasize the unity in the church of Christ that has come about for both Jews and Gentiles within God's household (Eph 1:15-2:22, especially Eph 2:11-22) and indeed the "seven unities" of church, Spirit, hope; one Lord, faith, and baptism; and the one God (Eph 4:4-6). Yet the concern is not with the church for its own sake but rather as the means for mission in the world (Eph 3:1-4:24). The gifts Christ gives its members are to lead to growth and renewal (Eph 4:7-24). Ethical admonition is not lacking either; all aspects of human life and relationships are illumined by the light of Christ (Eph 4:25-6:20).

From the Gospel of Matthew: Mt 2:1-12

When Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea,
in the days of King Herod,
behold, magi from the east arrived in Jerusalem, saying,
"Where is the newborn king of the Jews?
We saw his star at its rising
and have come to do him homage."

When King Herod heard this, he was greatly troubled,
and all Jerusalem with him.

Assembling all the chief priests and the scribes of the people,
he inquired of them where the Christ was to be born.
They said to him, "In Bethlehem of Judea,
for thus it has been written through the prophet:
And you, Bethlehem, land of Judah,
are by no means least among the rulers of Judah;
since from you shall come a ruler,
who is to shepherd my people Israel."

Then Herod called the magi secretly
and ascertained from them the time of the star’s appearance.
He sent them to Bethlehem and said,
"Go and search diligently for the child.
When you have found him, bring me word,
that I too may go and do him homage."

After their audience with the king they set out.
And behold, the star that they had seen at its rising preceded them,
until it came and stopped over the place where the child was.

They were overjoyed at seeing the star,
and on entering the house
they saw the child with Mary his mother.
They prostrated themselves and did him homage.
Then they opened their treasures
and offered him gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh.
And having been warned in a dream not to return to Herod,
they departed for their country by another way.

The Magi is a designation of the Persian priestly caste, the word became used of those who were regarded as having more than human knowledge. Matthew's magi are astrologers. The Old Testament texts found in Psalm 72:10; Psalm 72:15; Isaiah 60:6 led to the interpretation of the magi as Kings.

The Star of Bethlehem is based on a tradition that a new star appeared at the time of a ruler's birth. Matthew also draws upon the Old Testament story of Balaam, who had prophesied that "A star shall advance from Jacob" (Numbers 24:17), though there the star means not an astral phenomenon but the king himself.

Herod's consultation with the chief priests and scribes has some similarity to a Jewish legend about the child Moses in which the "sacred scribes" warn Pharaoh about the imminent birth of one who will deliver Israel from Egypt and the king makes plans to destroy him. Matthew 2:11:

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