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[av_heading heading=’ Confusion mars celebration of ‘Feast of the Three Kings’’ tag=’h3′ style=’blockquote modern-quote’ size=” subheading_active=’subheading_below’ subheading_size=’15’ padding=’10’ color=” custom_font=”]
BY HERBERT VEGO
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Tuesday, January 3, 2017
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THE Christmas season traditionally ends on Jan. 6 (Friday this week) – the 12th day of Christmas, counting from the first day after Dec. 25. However, Catholic churches in the United States now celebrate it on the first Sunday after Jan. 1 (meaning January 8 this year) to coincide with the Sunday masses. The Orthodox Christians in Russia celebrate it on Jan. 19.
The Epiphany or Three Kings’ Day commemorates principally the visit of the “three kings” to the child Jesus. In the gospel of Matthew, the birth of Jesus coincided with the appearance of an extraordinary celestial body: a star which led the magi or “wise men” to Jesus. This star “went before them, till it came and stood over where the young child was.” They offered him gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh.
The Roman Catholic Church attaches symbolic importance to these gifts – the gold representing his royal standing; frankincense his divine birth; and myrrh his mortality.
The earliest reference to the “three kings” sprang from the song “We Three Kings of Orient Are,” which was written by Reverend John Henry Hopkins Jr. of the Episcopal Church while serving as music director of the General Theological Seminary in New York City in 1857.
There is no Biblical reference to the three gift givers, however, as kings of whatever places. There is none naming them Melchor, Gaspar and Balthazar. In context, the Bible alludes to the “wise men from the East” as astrologers.
Here’s why: Their “search” for Jesus began in compliance with the order of Israel’s King Herod, who wanted the child killed (Matthew 2:7). Contrary to popular belief, they did not arrive at the manger on the night of Christ’s birth; rather, they found the young Jesus and His parents living in a house – no longer in a manger. This could have been nearly two years after Christ’s birth, since Herod – fearful of a threat to his position as king – tried to have Jesus eliminated by killing all male children under the age of two.
It was only after the magi had met with Herod that the “bright star” shone, guided them to Bethlehem and hovered over the location of Jesus. The appearance of the miraculous “star” was probably the miracle that emboldened the “three kings” to disobey the order of Herod.
Hence, with their change of heart, they proceeded to see the child Jesus with no more evil motive. They never returned to Herod with “mission accomplished.”
No known natural phenomenon would be able to stand over Bethlehem since all “natural” stars seem to rise in the east and set in the west, or circle around the celestial poles. Bing millions of light years away, there’s no way a star could pinpoint an earthly location.
Theologians argue, however, that God works in mysterious ways. For the same reason, they say, the Virgin Birth itself was a supernatural event that could not be explained within the context of known natural laws.
Dr. Jason Lisle, an American astrophysics professor at the University of Colorado, has said in a lecture on the gospel of Matthew, Chapter 2:
“The magi already knew that Christ was in Bethlehem. This they had learned from Herod, who had learned it from the priests and scribes. Whatever the exact mechanism, the fact that the star led the magi to Christ is evidence that the star was uniquely designed, made by God for a very special purpose. God can use extraordinary means for extraordinary purposes.”
It is easy for Christians to agree with the lecturer. It could be defended by quoting the verse that “the heavens declare the glory of God…” (Psalm 19:1).
Strange as it seems, most Christians still cling to the falsehood that the magi were “three kings.” If they were, why would they be afraid of a fellow king, Herod of Israel?/PN
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