Epiphany
in some countries it is
known as
Three Kings’ Day
Epiphany is the climax of
the Advent/Christmas Season and the Twelve Days of Christmas.
20+C+B+M+11
Around January 6, the
symbol +C+B+M+ with two numbers before and two numbers after (for example, 20+C+B+M+11)
is sometimes seen written in chalk above the doorway of Christian
homes. The letters are the initials of the traditional names of the Three
Magi: Caspar, Melchior and Balthasar. These letters also abbreviate the
Latin phrase Christus mansionem benedicat, "May Christ bless the
house." The beginning and ending numbers are the year, 2011 in the example
above. The crosses represent Christ.
In the
time of King Herod, after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea, wise men from
the East came to Jerusalem, asking, "Where is the child who has been born
king of the Jews? For we observed his star at its rising, and have come to pay
him homage." When King Herod heard this, he was frightened, and all
Jerusalem with him; and calling together all the chief priests and scribes of
the people, he inquired of them where the Messiah was to be born. They told
him, "In Bethlehem of Judea; for so it has been written by the prophet:
'And you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah,
are by no means least among the rulers of Judah;
for from you shall come a ruler
who is to shepherd my people Israel.'"
Then Herod secretly called for the wise men and learned from them the exact
time when the star had appeared. Then he sent them to Bethlehem, saying,
"Go and search diligently for the child; and when you have found him,
bring me word so that I may also go and pay him homage." When they had
heard the king, they set out; and there, ahead of them, went the star that they
had seen at its rising, until it stopped over the place where the child was.
When they saw that the star had stopped, they were overwhelmed with joy. On
entering the house, they saw the child with Mary his mother; and they knelt
down and paid him homage. Then, opening their treasure-chests, they offered him
gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh. And having been warned in a dream not
to return to Herod, they left for their own country by another road.
Matthew
2:1-12
Journey of the Magi
TISSOT, James Jacques
Joseph (1836-1902)
French, oil on canvas
1894
Minneapolis Institute of
Arts, Minneapolis, Minnesota, United States
http://www.biblical-art.com/artwork.asp?id_artwork=27768&showmode=Full
The Brooklyn Museum in New
York has an opaque watercolour over graphite on grey wove paper by Tissot of
this scene.
Complementing
the narrative of the venerations by the humble shepherds, the Magi, guided by a
moving star, traveled separately from their individual lands in the east in
search of the newborn Jesus. Tissot depicts the Magi at the moment when their
retinues meet in the vast, arid landscape of the volcanic hills on the shores
of the Dead Sea between Jericho, the Kedron Valley, and Jerusalem. In his
commentary, the artist notes that their flowing saffron robes—a luxurious
counterpoint to the simple woolens of the shepherds— signal their status as
astronomers.
What we think, or what we
know, or what we believe, is in the end, of little consequence.
The only thing of consequence
is what we do.
~ John
Ruskin
Since we cannot change reality, let us
change the eyes which see reality.
~
Nikos Kazantzakis
Moore
in the Gardens
A day at the Denver Botanic Gardens
Three Piece Reclining
Figure: Draped
There are twenty of
Henry Moore’s amazing sculptures on exhibit in Denver!
Oval with Points
Large Reclining Figure
Goslar Warrior
Reclining Figure: Angles
Japanese Teahouse at the
Botanic Gardens in Winter
After the Evergreen Lake
Plunge on New Year’s Day,
a few others decided to
make the plunge.
It had warmed up by then
to around 15 degrees.
Gail Ridings after The
Plunge.
<gr>
Another traffic delay.
Deborah and Harold Linke
had a very nice New Year’s Day Reception.
Jenna, their daughter, and
grandson Emerson
All journeys have secret
destinations of which the traveler is unaware.
~
Martin Buber
January
2, 2011 Second Sunday After Christmas Day
January 6, 2011 Epiphany of the Lord
Previous
OPQs may be found at:
http://www.dotjack.com/opq.htm
1In the time of King Herod,
after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea, wise men from the East came to
Jerusalem, 2asking, ‘Where is the
child who has been born king of the Jews? For we observed his star at its
rising, and have come to pay him homage.’
Matthew 2:1-12
Agnus Day, by James Wetzstein
Agnus Day appears with the
permission of www.agnusday.org
The following poem,
written by Mary Brooks Picken, entitled, "Thimblefuls of
Friendliness" was written in 1924.
"Stepping
Stones"
"Isn't it strange that Princes and Kings
And clowns that caper in sawdust rings,
And just plain folks like you and me,
Are builders for Eternity?
To each is given a bag of tools,
A shapeless mass and a book of rules,
And each must make ere life is flown,
A stumbling block, or a
stepping stone."
(A favorite of Don Donner,
1930-2010)
January
2 (2nd Sunday After Christmas Day)
Jeremiah
31:7-14
Psalm
147:12-20
Ephesians
1:3-14
John
1:(1-9) 10-18
January
6 (Epiphany of the Lord)
Isaiah
60:1-6
Psalm
72:1-7, 10-14
Ephesians
3:1-12
Matthew
2:1-12