Letter from the Pastor
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January 7, 2024Today we celebrate the Feast of the Epiphany. Pious legend tells us that three great mysteries happened on the same day years apart: the star led the Magi to the manger; John baptized our Lord in the Jordan, and wine was made from water at the wedding feast in Cana, the three epiphanies of the Lord.
Today we remember when the Magi met the Christ Child. Tomorrow, we will remember the Baptism of the Lord. The Gospel of the Wedding Feast is not celebrated every year.
Who were these gift-bearing kings, these Wise Men of the East? St. Matthew's Gospel tells their story.
The Wise Men or Magi in Latin, the singular form, Magus, are the source of our English word "magician." A magus could be a Zoroastrian priest from Persia, an occultist, a magician, or a charlatan. Magi also studied the stars, some recent translations call them "astrologers."
Strangers who worship the new King of Judah and brought gifts fulfilled prophecies about the messiah. "The kings of Tarshish and the Isles shall offer gifts; the kings of Arabia and Seba shall bring tribute" (Ps. 72:10). "All they from Sheba shall come, bearing gold and frankincense, and proclaiming the praises of the Lord." (Isa. 60:6) Because the Scriptures speak of kings, Tertullian, an early Church Father called the Magi “kings.” Origen, another early Church Father specified that they numbered three to match their gifts and their named kingdoms.
These foreigners, the first Gentiles to see the Light, recognize what Herod could not: the newborn Savior. The wealthy, learned, alien Magi from St. Matthew’s Gospel complement the poor, ignorant, local shepherds of St Luke's Gospel. These Gentiles and Jews worshiped the Lord to show that salvation is offered to all people, foreshadowing the universality of the Church.
The holyday of Epiphany was celebrated at least 75 years before Christmas was celebrated as a holy day in Rome.
The Adoration of the Magi has been a popular subject for artists. The earliest surviving examples are catacomb paintings from the second and third centuries and carvings on stone coffins from the first half of the fourth century. The Magi are represented in exotic "Eastern" garb, wearing tunics, leggings, and soft peaked caps. They observe imperial Roman court etiquette by presenting their gifts with covered hands or on trays. By the tenth century, Western artists were portraying the Wise Men with crowns. They grow distinguishable because they have come to stand for the three ages of man, the three known continents of the Old World, and three races descended from the sons of Noah. The thirteenth century gives the Magi's names in Latin as Caspar, Balthasar, and Melchior. Casper (gold) is elderly; Melchior (frankincense) is middle-aged; and Balthasar (myrrh) is young.
Scripture and legend have combined to honor the Wise Men from the East. May we, like them, this New Year follow the star, which "guide us to the Perfect Light.”
It was so good to see so many of you at Christmas Mass; 1,780 people attended Christmas Masses this year. I also would like to thank you for your generous Christmas gifts, cards, and baked goodies. You are so generous to Father Clarke and me; please know how grateful and appreciative we are to you.
Allow me also to thank you for your generous contributions to the Christmas collection. Thanks to those who contributed to the special Music and Flower collections.
I would like to thank all those who made Christmas, once again, a beautiful and prayerful experience.
I would like to thank in a particular way, our choir and Director of Music, Mark LaRosa. He along with the Choir put in many hours to make such beautiful music in honor of the Lord’s Nativity. If you missed our Lessons and Carols, or the Mass at Night on Christmas Eve, you missed something special. Save the dates for next year, the Third Sunday of Advent for Lessons and Carols and Christmas Eve Mass at 10:00PM.
I would like to thank Dan Gurniak who sang, once again, this year Silent Night in German during the Night Mass, all our guest singers, our guest string ensemble and our magnificent Choir. The ushers, lectors, ministers of Communion, altar servers, and those who help decorate our Church, the Rectory Staff, my deep gratitude.
