Today is the 12^th and last Day of Christmas. Tomorrow, January 6th traditionally is The Epiphany of the Lord. It is the first of three early epiphanies (=revealing, or showing forth). The Second epiphany is the Baptism of the Lord, and the third early epiphany is the Wedding at Cana. All three of the epiphanies reveal Jesus as God-in-the-flesh. Pious legend tells us that three great epiphanies happened all on the same day but years apart.
 
The bishops of this country years ago decided to celebrate the Epiphany on a Sunday closest to January 6^th so all could celebrate and attend Mass.
 
This epiphany celebrates the arrival of the Magi from the east to bring to the Newborn King their gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh. Today we celebrate Feast of the Epiphany.
 
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, is 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 complement the poor, ignorant, local shepherds. 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. 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; approximately 1,764 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 express my deep gratitude to all those who made Christmas, once again a beautiful and prayerful experience. I would like to thank in a particular way, our choir and our Director of Music, Mark LaRosa. He along with the choir put 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 10:00 PM.
 
Thank you, once again, to Dan Gurniak who sang Silent Night in German during the Night Mass in candlelight, all our guest singers, our guest string ensemble and our magnificent choir.
 
To all the ushers, lectors, ministers of Communion, altar servers, and those who helped decorate our Church and the Rectory Staff; my deep gratitude. You are the living gifts to this parish.