myths, magi and meaning

Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

Yes! We're still in the season of Christmas. And today we celebrate what we have traditionally known as 'Three Kings.' We are aware however of the fact that their number is not certain... they're not necessarily three (although there are three gifts/treasures mentioned in the Gospel- Mt. 2:11 ) and that they are not actually kings. The bible tells us that they are wise men--magi from the east (Mt. 2:1). Church calendar marks this day as the Feast of the Epiphany of our Lord--the manifestation of Jesus.

On Christmas day, the Incarnate Son made Himself known to the shepherds from Israel (as we find in the nativity story of Luke) but today He reveals Himself to people of other race and color and creed. Jesus indeed is for all.

And today's celebration seems to reecho Benedict XVI's Urbi et Orbi message last December 25: "The grace of God has appeared to all. Jesus – the face of the "God who saves", did not show himself only for a certain few, but for everyone. Although it is true that in the simple and lowly dwelling of Bethlehem few persons encountered him, still he came for all: Jews and Gentiles, rich and poor, those near and those far away, believers and non-believers… for everyone."

And moving on, the pope challenges us to present "him to all humanity, so that each person and every human situation may come to know the power of God’s saving grace, which alone can transform evil into good, which alone can change human hearts, making them oases of peace."

Others consider this day as the 'second Christmas' since it's also today that the nativity scene is completed. I hope and pray that as we start this new year and close another Christmas season, we may not be lost in the gifts and decors and food and all those other things that we do to make this season memorable. It's not yet too late to pause a while and remember and reflect on the real and deeper meaning of this event. May we be able to follow the example of the 'three kings' who went out of their way to seek Him and then worshiped and offered Him their treasures when they at last found Him.