Ephiphany Sunday

Today the Church recalls Epiphany Sunday in which the three kings or magi from the east saw the star and brought our Lord Jesus gifts. The word epiphany from the Greek means appearance or manifestation. In the eastern church they use the word theophany or revelation of God. Gold symbolizes the earthly treasure typically given to a king, but our King Jesus is Lord of Heaven as well as earth. The gift of frankincense used in worship symbolize Jesus’s divinity. The myrrh represents his sacrifice for our sin and his humanity with his anointing of the body when being laid in the tomb.

How have you had a manifestation of God working in your life through the power of the Holy Spirit? Have you been seeking those signs in prayer that allow you to do homage before King Jesus and dwell in His loving presence? Perhaps, this year, we can find ways to be open to how the Holy Spirit might remove our blinders so that we can be more open and attentive to the manifestation of Jesus being present for us. It is especially difficult during those times of trial and times of chaos with earthly distractions where it is harder to seek those signs where God is present, yet He is here and wishes to manifest Himself during those unpleasant times as well.

Today’s liturgical feast and commemoration is also a special day where you can bless your household with holy chalk to mark the threshold of the door and seek God’s blessing upon your home and family for the coming year.

Come let us adore Christ Jesus, the Lord on this day. Let our souls be open to His appearance in which He wants us to bow down and do him homage in which we cast aside those earthly distractions and offer our greatest treasure to the King – the gift of ourselves and entire will, being and whole heart!

Blessing of the Christian Home & Meaning on Epiphany Sunday:

20 + C + M + B + 24

The letters C, M, B have two definitions. They are the initials of the names of the three magi or kings from the east: Caspar, Melchior, and Balthazar. They also come from the Latin, “Christus mansionem benedicat” which means “May Christ bless the house.” The “+” signs symbolize the cross and the 20 and the 24 represent the year, 2024 in which blessed chalk is used to mark the threshold of the doorstep of your house just as the ancient Israelites blessed their homes with the blood of the lamb at Passover.

Below are a few links for blessing your house this day and asking the great King Jesus to be a part of your household for the coming year:

https://dmsbcatholic.com/pastor/epiphany-blessing/

Or

https://www.usccb.org/prayers/blessing-home-and-household-epiphany