Epiphany

Most Christians I know are not in a liturgical tradition. I personally find this grievous seeing that most Protestants have lost rich Christian holidays and the rhythm that comes from the Christian calender. The liturgical year is as follows:

"The Christian calendar is organized around two major centers of Sacred Time: Advent, Christmas, and Epiphany; and Lent, Holy Week, and Easter, concluding at Pentecost. The rest of the year following Pentecost is known as Ordinary Time, from the word "ordinal," which simply means counted time (First Sunday after Pentecost, etc.). Ordinary Time is used to focus on various aspects of the Faith, especially the mission of the church in the world. Some church traditions break up ordinary time into a Pentecost Season, (Pentecost until the next to last Sunday of August) and Kingdomtide (last Sunday of August until the beginning of Advent)."

Today is Epiphany (January 6th) or three kings day. We are all familiar with the twelve days of Christmas, at least the song. For centuries the church has agreed that there are twelve days of Christmas beginning Christmas day and ending with the feast of Epiphany. The feast of Epiphany is a feast celebrating the 'shining forth' or revelation of God to mankind in human form, in the person of Jesus Christ. Moreover, Epiphany is the date on which Caspar,

Melchior, and Balthasar, who are variously referred to as The Three Kings, Three Wise Men, or Magi arrived from the east bearing gifts for Jesus. In the story they see the star in the west announcing the birth of the Messiah and then follow the star to see the new king. They bring gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh (Matthew 2:1-7).

My hope is that whatever tradition you are in that you would stop and ponder in you heart God's ultimate revelation in the person of Jesus Christ and thank him for our great salvation on this last day of Christmas.