EPIPHANY

EPIPHANY

FROM A SERMON BY ST. PETER CHRYSOLOGUS,BISHOP

“TODAY THE MAGI FIND, CRYING IN A MANGER, THE ONE THEY HAVE FOLLOWED AS HE SHONE IN THE SKY.  TODAY THE MAGI SEE CLEARLY, IN SWADDLING CLOTHES, THE ONE THEY HAVE LONG AWAITED.  TODAY THE MAGI GAZE IN DEEP WONDER AT WHAT THEY SEE:  HEAVEN ON EARTH, EARTH IN HEAVEN, MAN IN GOD, GOD IN MAN, ONE WHOM THE UNIVERSE CANNOT CONTAIN NOW ENCLOSED IN A TINY BODY.  AS THEY LOOK, THEY BELIEVE AND DO NOT QUESTION AS THEIR SYMBOLIC GIFTS BEAR WITNESS:  INCENSE FOR GOD, GOLD FOR A KING, MYRRH FOR ONE WHO IS TO DIE”

“ THE GENTILES WHO WERE THE LAST, BECOME THE FIRST: THE FAITH OF THE MAGI IS THE FIRSTFRUITS OF THE BELIEF OF THE GENTILES.”