Ah-Ha

... The star they had seen in the east went ahead of them until it stopped over the place where the child was. When they saw the star, they were overjoyed. On coming to the house, they saw the child with his mother Mary, and they bowed down and worshiped him. Then they opened their treasures and presented him with gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh.

-- Matthew 2: 9-12

One well-known part of the Christmas story is the arrival of the three Wise Men to bring their gifts to the baby Jesus. They followed a new star in the sky.

After Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, during the time of King Herod, Magi from the east came to Jerusalem and asked, "Where is the one who has been born king of the Jews? We saw his star when it rose and have come to worship him."

-- Matthew 2: 1-2

When Herod, the Roman ruler, heard the news of the new king, he felt his rule threatened. He called together his experts and asked where the Christ was to be born.

In Bethlehem, in Judea, for this is what the prophet has written: "But you Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, are by no means least among the rulers of Judea; for out of you will come a ruler, who will be the shepherd of the people of Israel."

-- Matthew 2: 3-5

Throughout history, prophets foretold the coming of the Messiah. "It was the fulfillment of the prophecy. Yet, they expected a royal figure, not a baby," said the Rev. Joseph Marconi, pastor of St. Thomas Aquinas University Parish in Fayetteville. "They overlooked the baby."

Herod sent the Magi to the star, but asked they return and give him the location of the babe, so he also could "worship him."

In fact, Herod ordered the killing of all male children younger than the age of 2, intending the baby Jesus would be among those killed on that Day of Innocents. The Magi returned to their homes following a different route after the danger was revealed to them in a dream.

Sunday, various churches celebrate Epiphany, a new liturgical season that leads Christians to Lent.

"Epiphany means manifestation or revelation ... of Christ to all," Marconi said.

Twelve Days

Jan. 6, 12 days after the birth of Jesus (or eight days in some traditions), Epiphany highlights the "recognition of gentiles accepting Christ and the light of Christ for all," Marconi said. The gentiles in Jesus' time were mostly Greeks and Romans; today, as was then, a gentile is anyone who is not Jewish. "They opened the door of faith in Christ for everyone," Marconi continued.

During the Advent season, the four weeks before Christmas, Christians wait for the light. At Epiphany, they celebrate the light going out to others, said the Rev. Jan Butin, co-pastor of First United Presbyterian Church in Fayetteville.

Throughout the season of Epiphany, which ends Feb. 2 -- 40 days after the birth -- numerous other events were happening, Marconi noted. According to Jewish Law, Jesus was circumcised, Mary waited the time for purification after birth and Mary and Joseph presented the baby at the Temple for redemption.

The celebrations seem minimal in the shadow of the Christmas season -- with many pastors giving only a nod during the Sunday sermon. "Epiphany is a liturgical act that began shortly after the Christ event," Marconi said. "It's nothing profound."

"We respect the eight days," Marconi said of his Catholic congregation. "Then we celebrate with Holy Mass. Catholics put the three wise men in front of the creche. It's more theological than ritual."

At Epiphany, the gentiles received Christ, and modern worshipers do the same, Marconi explained. "When you receive Christ, your life goes a different way, Christ's way," he reminded. "You don't go back and follow the same behavior, if it's a true epiphany."

"Epiphany is also an 'ah-ha,'" Butin said. "You notice that something is different, not right in the world. But Christ comes out of joy and justice to fix that. And we live that out."

She noted that her church often marks Epiphany with a Mardi-Gras-style king cake in a fellowship gathering.

Wise Men

But history sometimes blurs the story. Recent scholars note the Magi might have not been royalty, might not have been kings. "They were probably astrologers or priests," Butin said.

The Bible never gives a number of the Christ child's wise visitors. Perhaps the number evolved from the three gifts to the Christ child that are mentioned in the Bible: gold, frankincense and myrrh -- not typical gifts for a baby, Butin added.

"And they might not have arrived all at once," Butin continued. The lapse of time between the birth and the arrival of the Magi might actually have been several years rather than 12 days, she said, pointing out the gospel account reads the Magi arrived at the house, not the stable.

"We don't know if there were three. We don't know who they were. And we don't know where they're from," Butin said.

"But the focus of the three kings is the manifestation of God's glory," she added. "It's a manifestation of God's glory to the gentiles.

"They see a new star, and they begin to follow it," Butin continued. "The star called out to them: 'Something amazing has happened.' This is the greatest news we have. How do we share it with others?"

"It's a joyful experience, when Christ comes, lives and comes again and again," Butin said. "God is there among us. In Christ, any one can come.

"The coming of light for all nations is the real Epiphany."