Epiphany

Picture of our belen before we put it away for next year.

Today is the feast of the Epiphany of the Lord. Wikipedia defines Epiphany (Greek for "to manifest" or "to show") as a Christian feast day which celebrates the revelation of God in human form in the person of Jesus Christ. Epiphany falls on the last day of the twelve days of Christmas which is January 6th. Sometimes, we call it the feast of the Three Kings, for it is by their gifts that we appreciate the reality of the dual nature of the child Christ:

1. human, son of Mary. He shares our earthly joys and sorrows.
   
2. divine, Son of God. He also shares with us His heavenly & eternal life.
   

Gold. For a King, not of this world, but of hearts and heaven.
Frankincense. The same one we burn at our churches, as a sweet offering to God of our prayers. We probably associate it as the scent of God.
Myrrh. A spice used in ancient embalming rituals, to signify the very real death that He would endure for our sake.

A few months from now, we commemorate His death on the cross... then we are reminded once more that Christmas was not in vain!