The Revelation of Chirst- Father Kevin Louis's Bulletin Column - January 07, 2007
In the current Roman liturgical calendar – revised under the directives of the Second Vatican Ecumenical Council (1962-1965) and promulgated in 1969 by the authority of Pope Paul VI – our Christmas Season is marked by three great celebrations: Christmas itself, Epiphany, and the Baptism of the Lord. In a most ancient liturgical tradition of the Church – previous to the fourth century – only one solemnity was observed, called Epiphany or Theophany, names which signify the self-manifestation or self-revelation of God. This one ancient feast actually called to mind four different events of the revelation of God in Jesus Christ: His Birth, wherein the divinity of Christ was revealed first to God’s chosen people; second, the homage of the Magi, wherein the divinity of Christ was manifested not just to the chosen people of Israel, but ad gentes, that is, to all peoples represented by the wise men from the East; third, His Baptism by John, wherein the divinity of Christ was shown at the beginning of His public ministry by the presence of the Holy Spirit and the voice of the Father; and, finally, the miracle at the wedding at Cana, changing water into wine, the first sign by which Jesus revealed Himself to be the Messiah. Eventually, three of these four elements – the remembrance of the Lord’s Birth, the homage of the Magi, and the Baptism of the Lord – were separated and given their own particular celebration. This is the genesis of our Christmas Season. In its origins, then, our Christmas Season was much broader and deeper than an extended commemoration merely of the Birth of Jesus. From its very beginning the focus of the Season was the revelation of God in Jesus Christ.
This original character of the Christmas Season is clearly reflected in the texts currently prescribed for the Masses of Christmas, Epiphany, and the Baptism of the Lord – texts drawn from the ancient sources of the Season itself. At Christmas, Preface I of the Eucharistic Prayer addresses the Father in these words: “In the wonder of the Incarnation your eternal Word has brought to the eyes of faith a new and radiant vision of your glory. In Him we see our God made visible and so are caught up in the love of the God we cannot see.” The Preface of the Eucharistic Prayer of Epiphany continues this theme of God’s self-manifestation as it says to the Father: “Today you revealed in Christ your eternal plan of salvation and showed Him as the light of all peoples. Now that His glory has shone among us you have renewed humanity in His immortal image.” Finally, in the Preface of the Eucharistic Prayer for the Mass of the Baptism of the Lord, the Father is addressed in these words: “Your voice was heard from Heaven to awaken faith in the presence among us of the Word made man. Your Spirit was seen as a dove, revealing Jesus as your servant, and anointing Him with joy as the Christ, sent to bring to the poor the good news of salvation.”
Today’s observance of the Solemnity of the Epiphany of the Lord calls to mind the events recounted in Saint Matthew’s Gospel (2:1-12): God the Father guiding the Magi to encounter His Eternal Son who is revealed to them as the Savior, the light of all peoples. Upon “entering the house they saw the Child with Mary His Mother. They prostrated themselves and did Him homage. Then they opened their treasures and offered Him gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh” (10-11).
Through the centuries numerous customs have developed in connection with Epiphany. In many countries it is on this day, and not at Christmas, that people exchange gifts with one another in imitation of the wise men who brought gifts for the Divine Infant. Another popular tradition is the blessing of the home. Using blessed chalk, the father or mother marks the entrance door (and interior doorways, if so desired) with the year and the letters “CMB” which stand for the names traditionally given to the wise men: Caspar, Melchior, and Balthasar. These letters also are an abbreviation of the Latin prayer Christus Mansionem Benedicat (“May Christ bless this home”). The inscription 20+C+M+B+07 remains above the doorway until Pentecost. During the blessing grains of incense may be burned symbolizing the family’s prayer rising to God (see Revelation 8:3-4).
Saint Peter, pray for us! Our Lady of Guadalupe, pray for us!