Listen to and ponder it all–more than once.

How could they have known not to come
On what amounted to pretense? Everything
Their learning held, all their beliefs
Said regal gifts were needful for a king.

The things they brought were left behind,
Doubtless; or maybe traded for bread:
Impecunious Joseph with a family
To feed, a roof to put over his head.

Read it all.

Join us on Thursday 6 January at 9:30am (said) and 8pm (sung) as we celebrate the feast of #Epiphany All welcome #AtTheHeartOfChristmas pic.twitter.com/7SYe3Ae6W9

— St Mary's Potters Bar (@StMarysPB) January 2, 2022

O God,
who by the leading of a star
manifested your only Son to the peoples of the earth:
mercifully grant that we,
who know you now by faith,
may at last behold your glory face to face;
through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord,
who is alive and reigns with you,
in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
one God, now and for ever.
Amen.

Happy Epiphany! I love this image from a capital in Auton Cathedral. pic.twitter.com/4AsBVpB9F4

— Jamie Hawkey (@jamie_hawkey) January 6, 2022

Almighty God,
in Christ you make all things new:
transform the poverty of our nature by the riches of your grace,
and in the renewal of our lives
make known your heavenly glory;
through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord,
who is alive and reigns with you,
in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
one God, now and for ever.
Amen.

Nothing for it but to visit my happy place this morning, I'm very grateful that it is so close to me. In every sunrise, there has to be hope (doesn't there?). pic.twitter.com/kBNBESid5Y

— Michelle (@Glastomichelle) January 17, 2021

Almighty God, who hast manifested thy Son Jesus Christ to be a light to mankind: Grant that we thy people, being nourished by thy word and sacraments, may be strengthened to show forth to all men the unsearchable riches of Christ, so that he may be known, adored and obeyed, to the ends of the earth; who liveth and reigneth with thee and the Holy Spirit, one God, world without end.

“I paint because the spirits whisper madly inside my head.” -Doménikos Theotokópoulos, also known as El Greco

Image: Adoration of the Magi, El Greco, 1568#painting #art #artwork #artist #figurepainting #figureart pic.twitter.com/wF87hzsc4F

— Art Mentors (@art_mentors) July 27, 2020

Lord Jesus, our Master, go with us while we travel to the heavenly country; that, following thy star, we may not wander in the darkness of this world’s night, while thou, who art our Way, and Truth, and Life dost shine within us to our journey’s end; for thy mercy’s sake.

The Epiphany. Matthew 2.11 And when they were come into the house, they saw the young child with Mary his mother, and fell down, and worshipped him: and when they had opened their treasures, they presented unto him gifts; gold, and frankincense and myrrh. [LPL MS558 f.11v.] pic.twitter.com/F053ukEfqj

— LambethPalaceLibrary (@lampallib) January 6, 2018

O God, who didst manifest thy only begotten Son to the Gentiles, and hast commanded thy Church to preach the gospel to every creature: Bless all thy servants who are labouring for thee in distant lands. Have compassion upon the heathen and upon all who know thee not, and lead them by thy Holy Spirit to him who is the light of the world, even the same Jesus Christ our Lord.

The #Epiphany, designed by Sir Edward Burne-Jones, & created by #WilliamMorris’s company. It was installed in the Epiphany Chapel at #WinchesterCathedral in 1910. The Feast of the Epiphany, celebrating the arrival of the #Magi, occurs on 6th January. #stainedglass #art #arte pic.twitter.com/F0xt0bN0rH

— Maude Frome (@frome_maude) January 5, 2021

Everybody knows that Christmas is a season of joy. For one, it has at its heart a birth story. A new and healthy child came into the world, and his family rejoiced. Every birth is a new beginning, a fresh hope. Christmas joy overlaps with the most common of humanity’s great joys.

We tend not to associate joy with Epi­phany. In Epiphany, Christians re­member the visit that the sages from the East made to Bethlehem to honor the newborn Jesus, an act of gentile recognition of Christ’s divinity and mission (Matt. 2:1–12). In this season we also commemorate the first miracle Jesus performed—at the wedding in Cana of Galilee, when Jesus revealed his glory and his disciples believed in him (John 2:1–11). Each of these seemingly unrelated events highlights a crucial aspect of joy.

Read it all.

The Feast of the #Epiphany is a time to proudly rejoice in Jesus, says @mary_o_regan https://t.co/nxMpITvozE pic.twitter.com/bHZ4bYv9ry

— Catholic Herald (@CatholicHerald) January 6, 2016

Words: Bishop Reginald Heber
Tune: ‘Epiphany’ – Joseph Thrupp

O God, who by a star didst guide the wise men to the worship of thy Son: Lead, we pray thee, to thyself the wise and the great in every land, that unto thee every knee may bow, and every thought be brought into captivity; through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Jacopo Bassano. The Adoration of the Magi. 1560-65; Oil on canvas. Kunsthistorisches Museum, Vienna. pic.twitter.com/zKO6YR0Jj0

— Gjeraqina Ukshini (@gjeni_u) December 26, 2014

Today is Plough Monday, the first Monday after Twelfth Night – traditionally the first day back to work after the Christmas season, and an excuse for more festivities! It was a day for blessing the tools of work in preparation for the year ahead.

(Dictionary of English Folklore) pic.twitter.com/Hgc0jk9D6K

— Eleanor Parker (@ClerkofOxford) January 11, 2021

You can listen directly there and download the mp3 there.

Divinity arrive… XXI
Baptism of Jesus by Fra Angelico (1395-1455)#art #apaintingeveryday pic.twitter.com/V2qlbuQsQv

— Rietje Bakker (@fietje_10) January 15, 2016

Eternal Father,
who at the baptism of Jesus
revealed him to be your Son,
anointing him with the Holy Spirit:
grant to us, who are born again by water and the Spirit,
that we may be faithful to our calling as your adopted children;
through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord,
who is alive and reigns with you,
in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
one God, now and for ever.
Amen.

The FCPC Friday e-gram – Baptism of Jesus, Bazile Castera Mural in Holy Trinity Anglican Cathedral, Port au Prince Haiti from Art in the Christian Tradition, a project of the Vanderbilt Divinity Library https://t.co/2zHjyLwKZK pic.twitter.com/dD53qhrDfT

— Falls Church Presby (@FallsChurchPres) January 8, 2021

Lord Jesus Christ, who in the offerings of the wise men didst receive an earnest of the worship of the nations: Grant that thy Church may never cease to proclaim the good news of thy love, that all men may come to worship thee as their Saviour and King, who livest and reignest world without end.

“You are not here to verify,
instruct yourself,
or inform curiosity.
Or carry report.
You are here to kneel….” ~T. S. Eliot, “Little Gidding,” Four Quartets #Epiphany pic.twitter.com/s3RFPG3GS8

— Kenneth Kovacs, PhD (@KenKovacs) January 6, 2019

O God, who by the shining of a star didst guide the wise men to behold thy Son, our Lord: Show us thy heavenly light, and give us grace to follow until we find him, and, finding him, rejoice. And grant that as they presented gold, frankincense, and myrrh, we now may bring him the offering of a loving heart, an adoring spirit, and an obedient will; for his honour, and for thy glory, O God most high.

Happy Epiphany! The Magi in #HaydonBridge Old Church. pic.twitter.com/BOn8KvUB1Q

— Michael Sadgrove 🇪🇺 (@MichaelSadgrove) January 6, 2016

O God, who by the guidance of a star didst manifest to the Gentiles the glory of thine only begotten Son: Grant us grace that, being led by the light of thy Holy Spirit, we may, in adoring love and lowliest reverence, yield ourselves to thy service; that thy kingdom of righteousness and peace may be advanced among all nations, to the glory of thy name; through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Today is the feast of the Epiphany, when the Church remembers the visit of the Magi to the infant Christ. Here in a C15 alabaster, once part of an altarpiece, at Long Melford, Suffolk. The Magi present their gifts to the standing child while Mary, Joseph and a midwife look on. pic.twitter.com/liPsWvYt8O

— Simon Knott (@last_of_england) January 6, 2021

O Christ, the Sun of Righteousness, shine graciously into our hearts that, walking as children of light, we may glorify thee before men, and, being always ready to obey Thy call, may, in our place and measure, hold up the light of life to them that sit in darkness and the shadow of death. Hear us, O Lord, for Thy great mercies’ sake, who livest and reignest with the Father and the Holy Ghost, now and for ever. Amen.

Today is Epiphany, the Christian feast day that commemorates the visit of the Magi (three Wise Men/Kings from India, Persia and Africa) to the Christ Child. We look after this print by Hendrick Goltzius, 1594. It shows Caspar, Melchior and Balthazar bearing their gifts. pic.twitter.com/1RYnBA4T8Q

— Bristol Museum & Art Gallery (@bristolmuseum) January 6, 2021

Let us now return to the exposition of the Gospel, where we previously left it. The astronomers went into the place where the child was staying, and found him with his mother. Then with prostrate bodies they worshipped Christ, and opened their coffers, and offered to him threefold gifts, gold, and incense, and myrrh. Gold is fitting for a king; incense belongs to God’s service; with myrrh the bodies of the dead are prepared that they may not soon rot. These three astronomers worshipped Christ, and offered to him symbolic gifts. The gold betokened that he is true King; the incense that he is true God; the myrrh that he was then mortal, though now he continues immortal in eternity…

My brothers, let us offer to our Lord gold, for we confess that he is true King, and rules everywhere. Let us offer to him incense, for we believe that he was always God, who at that time appeared as a man. Let us bring him myrrh, for we believe that he was mortal in our flesh, who is incapable of suffering in his divine nature. He was mortal in human nature before his Passion, but he is henceforth immortal, as we all shall be after the universal resurrection.

We have spoken of these threefold gifts, how they apply to Christ. We also wish to say how they apply to us in a figurative sense. Truly gold betokens wisdom; as Solomon said, “A goldhoard much to be desired lies in the mouth of a wise man.” Incense represents holy prayer, of which the psalmist sang, “Lord, let my prayer be sent forth like burning incense in thy sight.” By myrrh is shown the mortality of our flesh, of which Holy Church says, “My hands dropped myrrh.” To the born King we bring gold, if we are shining in his sight with the brightness of heavenly wisdom. Incense we bring him, if we set fire to our thoughts on the altar of our heart with the eagerness of holy prayers, so that through heavenly desire we may give forth something of a sweet smell. Myrrh we offer him if we quell the lusts of the flesh by self-restraint.

Read it all (and note the link to the full sermon text).

Lone wanderers and the 'star-wise men': an Anglo-Saxon sermon for the Feast of the Epiphany https://t.co/Fy1VHuuIAr pic.twitter.com/pKC4EQIHZt

— Eleanor Parker (@ClerkofOxford) January 6, 2016

You can listen directly there and download the mp3 there.

One the little joys of the Epiphany happens at Compline:

Blessed art thou, O Lord, in the firmament of heaven;
to be praised and glorified above all for ever. pic.twitter.com/FlX1Dtx7Jw

— laudablePractice (@cath_cov) January 5, 2021

Dear friends, this is the question that the Church wishes to awaken in the hearts of all men: who is Jesus? This is the spiritual longing that drives the mission of the Church: to make Jesus known, his Gospel, so that every man can discover in his human face the face of God, and be illumined by his mystery of love. Epiphany pre-announces the universal opening of the Church, her call to evangelize all peoples. But Epiphany also tells us in what way the Church carries out this mission: reflecting the light of Christ and proclaiming his Word. Christians are called to imitate the service that the star gave the Magi. We must shine as children of the light, to attract all to the beauty of the Kingdom of god. And to all those who seek truth, we must offer the Word of God, which leads to recognizing in Jesus “the true God and eternal life” (1 John 5:20).

—Benedict XVI.

Adoration of the Magi, 1636-37, by #ArtemisiaGentileschi (Italian, 1593-1652/3?). Pozzuoli Cathedral, Naples; source, https://t.co/cQqiMGO9LN #artherstory #womenartists #Epiphany #FeastofEpiphany pic.twitter.com/XUynPcRn6A

— ArtHerstory (@NoteArtHerstory) January 6, 2021

Lyrics:

All they from Sheba shall come: they shall bring gold and incense;
and they shall show forth the praises of the Lord. Alleluia.
The Kings of Tharsis and of the isles shall give Him presents;
the Kings of Arabia and Sheba shall bring gifts. Alleluia.

The same thing happens to Father Kendall Harmon every year during the 12 days after the Nativity of Our Lord Jesus Christ.

It happens with newcomers at his home parish, Christ-St. Paul’s in Yonges Island, South Carolina, near Charleston. It often happens when, as Canon Theologian, he visits other parishes in the Episcopal Diocese of South Carolina.

“I greet people and say ‘Merry Christmas!’ all the way through the 12 days” of the season, he said, laughing. “They look at me like I’m a Martian or I’m someone who is lost. … So many people just don’t know there’s more Christmas after Christmas Day.”

Read it all.

O God, who by the leadings of thy providence didst bring wise men from far to give homage to Jesus, born to be King of all: Help us, who by various ways are led to Christ, humbly and thankfully to adore him with our gifts, and as our costliest treasure to present before him ourselves for his honour and service, now and always.

Happy Three Kings Day! ¡Feliz Día de Reyes! 👑👑👑 January 6th is the traditional celebration of the Epiphany of the Lord, with so many different customs around the world. pic.twitter.com/Php9UylwNN

— Christopher Rosario (@BAMBAMBPT) January 6, 2021

look through them all.

Men jump into a lake to catch a wooden cross during Epiphany Day celebrations in Sofia, Bulgaria. More photos of the day: https://t.co/ojli7cCAL7 📷 Stoyan Nenov pic.twitter.com/XONuukgJwy

— Reuters Pictures (@reuterspictures) January 6, 2021

O Blessed Jesus, who by the shining of a star didst manifest thyself to them that sought thee: Show thy heavenly light to us, and give us grace to follow until we find thee; finding, to rejoice in thee; and rejoicing, to present to thee ourselves, our souls and bodies, for thy service for evermore: for thine honour and glory.

The Adoration of the Magi from Horae ad usum Rothmagensem (Paris,1498) [ZZ1488.5] #Epiphany pic.twitter.com/IntoR26E12

— LambethPalaceLibrary (@lampallib) January 3, 2021

O God,
who by the leading of a star
manifested your only Son to the peoples of the earth:
mercifully grant that we,
who know you now by faith,
may at last behold your glory face to face;
through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord,
who is alive and reigns with you,
in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
one God, now and for ever.
Amen.

#Epiphany
“Although he dwelt entirely in a body,
still he dwelt entirely in the universe.
Blessed is the Unlimited who was limited.
Blessed is your birth that stirred up the universe!”
(Ephrem of Syria) pic.twitter.com/m7ZdmAw019

— Barry Naylor ن 💙 (@KaJuror) January 6, 2021

…that this star was not of the common sort, or rather not a star at all, as it seems at least to me, but some invisible power transformed into this appearance, is in the first place evident from its very course. For there is not, there is not any star that moves by this way, but whether it be the sun you mention, or the moon, or all the other stars, we see them going from east to west; but this was wafted from north to south; for so is Palestine situated with respect to Persia.

In the second place, one may see this from the time also. For it appears not in the night, but in mid-day, while the sun is shining; and this is not within the power of a star, nay not of the moon; for the moon that so much surpasses all, when the beams of the sun appear, straightway hides herself, and vanishes away. But this by the excess of its own splendor overcame even the beams of the sun, appearing brighter than they, and in so much light shining out more illustriously.

…[Later in the narrative] it did not, remaining on high, point out the place; it not being possible for them so to ascertain it, but it came down and performed this office. For ye know that a spot of so small dimensions, being only as much as a shed would occupy, or rather as much as the body of a little infant would take up, could not possibly be marked out by a star. For by reason of its immense height, it could not sufficiently distinguish so confined a spot, and discover it to them that were desiring to see it. And this any one may see by the moon, which being so far superior to the stars, seems to all that dwell in the world, and are scattered over so great an extent of earth,””seems, I say, near to them every one. How then, tell me, did the star point out a spot so confined, just the space of a manger and shed, unless it left that height and came down, and stood over the very head of the young child? And at this the evangelist was hinting when he said, “Lo, the star went before them, till it came and stood over where the young Child was.”

Read it all.

In Western Christianity, today is #Epiphany, a feast day that commemorates principally the visit of the Magi to the Christ Child, and thus Jesus' physical manifestation to the Gentiles. 'Tis sometimes called #ThreeKingsDay, and in some traditions celebrated as Little Christmas. pic.twitter.com/lNVj5KVSUi

— Dr. Paul (@DrPnygard) January 6, 2021

How could they have known not to come
On what amounted to pretense? Everything
Their learning held, all their beliefs
Said regal gifts were needful for a king.

The things they brought were left behind,
Doubtless; or maybe traded for bread:
Impecunious Joseph with a family
To feed, a roof to put over his head.

Read it all.

Antiphon:#TheMagi saw the star & said to one another:
This is the sign of the great King;
let us go & seek him;
let us offer him gifts:
gold, frankincense & myrrh.

First #Vespers of the #Epiphany #EveningPrayer #ChristmasSeason

Image by Celeste Lauritsen pic.twitter.com/6dV7Uy8A82

— McCrimmon Publishing (@McCrimmonsuk) January 5, 2021

Almighty and everlasting God, who hast made known the incarnation of thy Son by the bright shining of a star, which when the wise men beheld they adored thy majesty and presented costly gifts: Grant that the star of thy righteousness may always shine in our hearts, and that for our treasure we may give to thy service ourselves and all that we have; through the same Jesus Christ our Lord.

Today we celebrate the #Epiphany of Our Lord, the day the Magi visited the Christ Child and the day of Christ's physical manifestation to the Gentiles.

The visit of the Magi is depicted here in the 14th-century Litlyngton Missal, a service book made for the Abbey's High Altar. pic.twitter.com/7SR7VzdUB3

— Westminster Abbey (@wabbey) January 6, 2021

Epiphanies open the possibility that we might change and the world might change, for they offer an opportunity to create new ways of living from our fragments of revelation. In the moment of illumination, our experience is enlarged, the boundaries of our lives made more permeable. Existence itself seems to hold more possibilities than we had imagined. But epiphanies are evanescent—they shine out, and then they recede. How can we hold onto the possibilities of change we glimpsed, in ourselves, in the world?

We need practices that keep us grounded in our epiphanies, even when the Magi have returned to their country and we to our daily lives. We need ways to extend our vision even when we are too busy to remember we’ve had one.

One way to do this is to make living in the afterglow of that vision a habit, a commitment. Benedictines do this when they choose to welcome every guest as Christ among them—a choice grounded, surely, in an epiphany, but a choice that can be made even when the light of illumination has dimmed. The story of La Befana illustrates this way of making an epiphany last. If she cannot go with the Magi to see the Christ Child, she will choose to find Christ in every child.

How will we choose to respond to the illumination of Epiphany, which passes so swiftly into memory? What commitments can we make to keep the Magi’s epiphany in view? Will we choose to see the Christ Child lying on the floor of a detention center, covered in a foil blanket? Will we choose to see the Holy Family separated and caged? And if we choose to see, what will we choose to do?

Read it all.

Peter Paul Rubens, Adoration of the Magi 1626-29. pic.twitter.com/L7YFwcUdZM

— Amy P💫 (@Amyperuana) July 29, 2015