thoughts on Epiphany

Today is Epiphany, when Christians, especially those in the liturgical tradition, observe the arrival of the Wise Men in Bethlehem. I often see this famous Howard Thurman quote around Christmas Day, but to me it really belongs on Epiphany. After all, the Wise Men, the kings and princes, didn’t encounter the Christ Child until twelve days after his birth. In any case, we are well-advised to heed Thurman’s words.

When the song of the angels is stilled,
When the star in the sky is gone,
When the kings and princes are home,
When the shepherds are back with their flock,
The work of Christmas begins:
To find the lost,
To heal the broken,
To feed the hungry,
To release the prisoner,
To rebuild nations,
To bring peace among brothers and sisters,
To make music in the heart.