We Three Kings
We three kings of
Orient are bearing gifts we traverse afar Field and fountain, moor and mountain
following yonder star
O
Star of wonder, star of night Star with royal beauty bright Westward leading,
still proceeding Guide us to thy Perfect Light
Born a King on
Bethlehem's plain gold I bring to crown Him again King forever, ceasing never over
us all to reign frankincense to offer have I incense owns a Deity nigh prayer
and praising, all men raising Worship Him, God most high
Myrrh is mine,
its bitter perfume breathes of life of gathering gloom sorrowing, sighing,
bleeding, dying sealed in the stone-cold tomb glorious now behold Him arise King
and God and Sacrifice Alleluia, Alleluia earth to heav'n replies
The First Noel
The First Noel, the Angels did say was to certain poor
shepherds in fields as they lay in fields where they lay keeping their sheep on
a cold winter's night that was so deep.
Noel, Noel, Noel, Noel Born is
the King of Israel!
They looked up and saw a star shining in the East beyond
them far and to the earth it gave great light and so it continued both day and
night.
And by the light of that same star three Wise men came from
country far to seek for a King was their intent and to follow the star wherever
it went.
This star drew nigh to the northwest O'er Bethlehem it took
its rest and there it did both pause and stay right o'er the place where Jesus
lay.
Then entered in those Wise men three fell reverently upon
their knee and offered there in His presence their gold and myrrh and
frankincense.
This morning at our Mass we sang both of these songs. Admittedly they are among my favorite
Christmas Carols. It was very nice to
end the Christmas season with these two songs.
For me they tell the story of the feast we celebrate today – the Epiphany
of our Lord. “Epiphany” means manifestation. And the “Epiphany of the Lord” is Jesus’
manifestation not only to these three Magi from the East, but it’s also a
symbolic but real manifestation of the Christ to the whole world. These Magi, traveling from a foreign and
non-Jewish nation, reveal that Jesus came for all people and all are called to
adore Him.
God used what they
were familiar with to call them to adore the Christ. He used a star. They understood the stars and when they saw
this new and unique star over Bethlehem they realized that something special
was happening. So the first lesson we
take from this for our own lives is that God will use what is familiar to us to
call us to Himself.
A second thing to
note is that the Magi fell prostrate before the Christ Child. They laid their lives down before Him in
complete surrender and adoration. They
set a perfect example for us. If these
astrologers from a foreign land could come and adore Christ in such a profound
way, we must do the same. We are called
to adore Him with a complete surrender of our life.
Lastly, the Magi
bring gold, frankincense, and myrrh.
These three gifts, presented to our Lord, show that they acknowledged
this Child as the Divine King who would die to save us from sin. Gold is for a King, frankincense is a burnt
offering to God, and myrrh is used for one who would die. Thus, their adoration is grounded in the
truths of who this Child is. If we are
to adore Christ properly, we must also honor Him in this threefold way.
Whatever we do
this day, let us take some time to reflect on the meaning of this day and be
open to our God of great surprises so that we too may respond with a total “yes.”
Pat Schifini, OSU
