January 2, 2021

They prostrated themselves and did him homage. – Matthew 2:11

Today, the Church celebrates the Solemnity of the Epiphany of the Lord. When I was a kid, our family use to “act out” the epiphany. Three of us kids would take a cardboard camel with a King on its back and “walk” it to the manger scene. If memory serves me correctly, we would sing or play the song We Three Kings. We’d lean each camel and king against the bookshelves near the manger. I’m sure Dad read the gospel, we prayed some prayers, and called it good. I smile when I watch the home movies which include this “procession.”

As a child, I didn’t give much thought to the Kings. Once Epiphany happened, Christmas at our house was sort of over, and life returned to pre-Advent normal. In adulthood, I’ve given more thought to the Kings. These three were wise and learned men and by all accounts, probably had more than what they needed to sustain life by the standards of their day. Yet, they sought out and followed the star, and when it led them to a lowly manger, they recognized the baby as the promised King, and they “prostrated themselves and did him homage.” What power and majesty our Jesus had as a baby in the womb, in His manger bed, in the flight to Egypt, in the temple as a 12-year-old boy, at His baptism in the Jordon, as He worked miracle after miracle, as He died on the cross, as He rose on the third day, and as He ascended back to the Father.  What power and majesty our Jesus has today? King and pauper alike bow down to honor and to give glory to the Son of God, Emmanuel, God is with us.

How can we recognize Jesus our King and give power and glory to God today and every day? As we begin a new calendar year, let us seek Him and His will for us in all things. Let us be wise, that we may be holy.

Joy to the world. The Lord is come!




©Mary V. Pribbenow