Today is Epiphany. In Hispanic and Latin culture it is known as Three Kings’ Day. The word epiphany means "to show", "to make known" or "to reveal." On this day we remember the coming of the wise men bringing gifts to visit the Christ child. The Wise Men or Magi who brought gifts to the child Jesus were the first Gentiles to acknowledge Jesus as "King" and so were the first to "show" or "reveal" Jesus to the world as the incarnate Christ. This act of worship by the Magi was one of the first indications that Jesus came for all people, of all nations, of all races, and that the work of God in the world would not be limited to only a few. (see The Voice)
On this day of Epiphany I'd like to share a poem found in The Christian Century magazine from Dec 13, 2011:
Emmanuel
From the cave of darkness
a baby comes to light.
In the nick of time,
eternity tonight.
In a world of error
a perfect child is birthed.
In the midst of terror,
peace arrives on earth.
In the chill of winter
dawns this blazing son.
To a world of sinners
comes this sinless one.
In a land of chaos
speaks this single Word
whose voice can raise the dead,
whose promise can be heard.
Even as he cries
sleepers stir beneath the sod
for nothing is impossible
with God.
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