An Epiphany

With the Feast of the Epiphany, we have finished the Christmas season for this liturgical year.

We meet the last of the cast of characters associated with Christmas: The Wise Men, and Herod.

In previous readings – and in other cycles – we meet the other folks traditionally associated with the season.

Jesus, Mary, and Joseph, of course.

The angels.

The shepherds.

The keeper of the inn in which there was no room.

Simeon and Anna.

There have even been some other characters added to the story (even though not in the Bible): The third wise man, the animals, the midwives, etc.

Traditionally, the Wise Men represent the nations of the world. Christ came to save not only the chosen people, but all nations. The Wise Men came on our behalf bearing gifts.

I welcome their visit to the Holy Family in my name.

But I also think of the other folks who are left out of the stories.

The workers at the inn conscientiously serving their guests.

The shepherds who could not respond to the angels’ song because of immediate danger to the flocks in their care.

The mothers and fathers of Bethlehem with infant sons who needed their constant care – little knowing that shortly jealous Herod would claim their infants’ lives.

So many other people who could not be there, but who were presenting their own gifts to the Infant through their loving attention to the needs of others.

Those caring souls represent me as well – maybe even more directly than the Wise Men.