Epiphany

And down from all the stars
Streams blessings like wondrous rain
So that all our weary powers
Grow newly fresh again.
And out of obscure dark
The Lord comes into view
To knit torn threads together And all of life renew
- Friedrich Hebbel

The Christmas tree has been taken down, the shimmering decorations are packed away, the images of the shepherds, the animals, the plants and the crystals at the stable - asleep. What remains is the simple sight of Joseph with Mary, who is crowned with stars, holding the Christ Child and the Magi kneeling and sharing their gifts of Gold, Frankincense and Myrrh.

Known as 3 kings day, the 6th of January marked the beginning of the season of Epiphany.

Epiphany can be when we reflect on a time when human beings received the gift of Light, a Light that we didn’t even know we needed or deserved.

Perhaps you have found reverence in the season of Advent and you were engaged in a meditative practice of the 12 Holy Nights or you may have been swept up in the celebrations of Christmas and then of the New Year. Either way be grateful for the gift of Epiphany,

The words of the the hymn We Three Kings could give us a starting point of our meditation:

We three kings of Orient are; bearing gifts we traverse afar, field and fountain, moor and mountain, following yonder star.

O star of wonder, star of light, star with royal beauty bright, westward leading, still proceeding, guide us to thy perfect light.

Born a King on Bethlehem's plain, gold I bring to crown him again, King forever, ceasing never, over us all to reign.

Frankincense to offer have I; incense owns a Deity nigh;

prayer and praising, voices raising, worshiping God on high.

Myrrh is mine; its bitter perfume breathes a life of gathering gloom; sorrowing, sighing, bleeding, dying, sealed in the stone-cold tomb.

Glorious now behold him arise; King and God and sacrifice: Alleluia, Alleluia,
sounds through the earth and skies.

Over time and through tradition the 3 Kings have acquired names:

Melchior (my King is Light) typically portrayed in red, brings gold, the symbol of wisdom and pointing to Christ’s kingship.

Balthasar (Bel protects the King) dressed in blue, brings frankincense which is the universal symbol for an offering that has something to do with intuition and reminds us of Christ’s deity.

Myrrh is the symbol of the dying of the lower life and the resurrection of the higher life, also a symbol of sacrifice, of death, the sacrifice of the earthly in order that the Higher may come to life - this significant of Christ’s sacrificial death, the gift given by Caspar (treasurer) wearing green.

Let us find our own symbolism in the Magi and their gifts. Consider questions such as why the 3 Magi, their origins and their purpose and why the gifts that they gave?
What was their pursuit to traverse hundreds of miles following a star to perfect light?

Now in our modern day perhaps we can meditate, pray and ponder over what we are truly pursuing - we can use this time to consider if our essential pursuit brings us rest and joy or emptiness and worry, may it be a time to confirm or a time to re-establish our pursuits.

May God speak through you this Epiphany and reveal Himself through your actions.

Ms. Mandy 
Read more Festival blog posts HERE