When we think of the Epiphany of our Lord or the Three Kings feast our thoughts are of the three wise men who hurried in haste to visit Jesus, they most probably were learned men who studied the stars and at the same time may have been familiar with the prophecy from the holy books that is the prediction about the birth of a king the savior to the world.
They in all probability may have left at dusk when the stars could be seen, so they could follow the star which was their guiding light, these men wanted to carry the most precious gifts to the new born king, so what were the gifts they opted for?
The Magi brought the Christ Child gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh. The child Jesus was honoured and glorified through His creation by the giving of these gifts. Gold was a gift that symbolized kingship. When we ponder the natural gift of gold given to the Christ Child, we are inspired to give Him our own gift of symbolic gold by prayerfully acknowledging Him as our own King to whom we
pledge our complete submission. Frankincense and myrrh are fruits of God’s creation made from the sap of trees found in India, north eastern Africa, and the
Arabian Peninsula, they are used in worship to symbolize prayers rising to heaven, Frankincense symbolizes the Christ Child’s divinity. We offer Frankincense to Christ to acknowledge His divine nature, since He is God in the flesh. Myrrh often used in burial, honours the Christ Child Who came to give His life as a sacrifice for many. We offer myrrh to profess our belief in the saving power of Christ’s death on the Cross and our need for that gift of salvation.
The Magi were unwavering in their quest to find the divine king. They sacrificed their comforts and endured a long, perilous journey, always following the guiding star. Their journey symbolizes our own faith pilgrimage. We are called to ask ourselves: Are we as zealous in seeking and loving God? Are we willing to set aside worldly distractions and dedicate our hearts, minds, and souls to Him? Like the Magi, our faith journey will not always be easy. We may face difficulties, uncertainties, and even failures. But let us take comfort in the words of the Lord: “Do not fear, I am with you.”
After encountering Jesus, the Magi departed by a different route for whatever may be the reason, it symbolises a profound change in their lives. Their journey was transformed by their encounter with Christ. Similarly, our encounter with Jesus should transform us, leading us to leave behind old ways of living and embrace a new life of faith, love, and righteousness.
This year the Epiphany of the Lord will be celebrated on Sunday, January 4, 2026. In a few places the feast is celebrated traditionally on 6th of January, it is a big feast with local boys dressed as kings reenacting the journey on horseback to a hilltop chapel, featuring grand processions, music, feasts, fairs, and traditional gift-giving, especially vibrant in villages like Cansaulim, Chandor, and Reis. Magos.
The feast of the Epiphany of the Lord reminds us that God’s salvation is for all people. As we celebrate this feast, let us renew our commitment to be like the star that guides others to Jesus Christ, the Light of the World.
Gladys Da Silva