“‘Epiphany’ means’appearance of God.’ When Jesus was born in Bethlehem, God himself appeared in our world.”

“At Epiphany we remember how rich wise men (magi) from countries of the East came to worship the infant Jesus in his simple stable. By doing this, the wise men showed that Jesus is the Messiah sent by God to save people of all nations.” 

Source: Lisa Reno, Magnifikid! Vol. 15 . Part 2. Section 2. January 7, 2018. Pages 3 & 4

Carving of Three Wisemen in Milk Grotto Church of the Virgin Mary in Bethlehem, Palestine, Israel

For Parents to Teach to Their Children

Our Art Gallery

The Visit of the Three Kings

Ink on Watercolor Paper

1. • Our Readings

     Gospel     Matthew, chapter 2:1-12

     “When Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea,
     in the days of King Herod,
     behold, magi from the east arrived in Jerusalem, saying,
     “Where is the newborn king of the Jews?
     We saw his star at its rising
     and have come to do him homage.”
     When King Herod heard this,
     he was greatly troubled,
     and all Jerusalem with him.
     Assembling all the chief priests and the scribes of the people,
     He inquired of them where the Christ was to be born.
     They said to him, “In Bethlehem of Judea,
     for thus it has been written through the prophet:
     And you, Bethlehem, land of Judah,
     are by no means least among the rulers of Judah;
     since from you shall come a ruler,
     who is to shepherd my people Israel.”
     Then Herod called the magi secretly
     and ascertained from them the time of the star’s appearance.
     He sent them to Bethlehem and said,
     “Go and search diligently for the child.
     When you have found him, bring me word,
     that I too may go and do him homage.”
     After their audience with the king they set out.
     And behold, the star that they had seen at its rising preceded them,
     until it came and stopped over the place where the child was.
     They were overjoyed at seeing the star,
     and on entering the house
     they saw the child with Mary his mother.
     They prostrated themselves and did him homage.
     Then they opened their treasures
     and offered him gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh.
     And having been warned in a dream not to return to Herod,
     they departed for their country by another way.”  Source: USCCB.org

     Readings for Children

     “The Wise Men Visit Jesus” Matthew 2:1-15  from Catholic Book of Bible Stories By Laurie Lazzaro Knowlton and Illustrated By Doris Ettlinger
     “Wise Men from the East, who studied the stars, followed one very bright star to Jerusalem.
     They went to King Herod and asked, ‘Where is the newborn king of the Jews?’
     King Herod didn’t know about Jesus’ birth.
     He called all of his priests and scribes together and asked, ‘Where is the Savior to be born?’
     The priests and scribes answered, ’The prophets say he is to be born in Bethlehem of Judea.’
     Herod told the Wise Men, ‘Go to Bethlehem and search for the child.
     Send for me when you find him. I want to go and honor him, too.’
     The Wise Men left Jerusalem.
     Again, the star they had followed rose and moved across the sky ahead of them.
     It led them to where Jesus was with his mother, Mary.
     The Wise Men bowed down and honored Jesus.
     They gave him magnificent treasures of gold, frankincense, and myrrh, which were symbols of his being our King and Savior.
     When they left, the Wise Men were warned in a dream not to return to Herod because Herod wanted to harm Jesus.
     Joseph also had a dream. An angel told him, ‘Leave for Egypt tonight!
     Herod is afraid of Jesus and wants to kill him.’
     So Joseph took Mary and Jesus to Egypt where they stayed until Herod died.”

      

     “Faith to Grow”
     “God had big plans for Jesus.
     The Wise Men knew that the prophets foretold the coming Messiah.
     God sent his only Son so that our sins could be forgiven in heaven.”

      

     “Prayer”
      
     “Help me to be wise like the Wise Men, who came to worship the Savior.
     In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit,
     Amen.”

   • Learning Through Travel

     I had the great opportunity to visit Bethlehem in June, 2017, with my son, Father William Goldin. We had a reservation to celebrate the Mass in the Manger Grotto which is within the Nativity Church. Imagine–being in the cave that Jesus was born in. That’s right! The birthplace of Jesus was not a lovely stable, but a cramped little cave with a stone manger (feeding trough) for the animals that would have been kept there. I was surprised and somewhat overwhelmed to stand in the area known to be the birthplace of Christ. After my son had celebrated the Mass, we visited the Milk Grotto Church of the Virgin Mary which is very close to the Nativity Church. There, I took the picture of the stone carving above that depicts the Three Wise Men meeting Baby Jesus and Mary, with two angels overhead. Many times since that trip, I remember the things we saw and the Holy Sites we visited. Of all of them, standing in the cave where Jesus was born on a cold night with a brilliant star in the sky, was probably the most memorable and significant of all of them.

     

     

     

     A Blessing of Our Homes from The Religion Teacher

   •  20 + C + M + B + 21

1. The Epiphany Song–We Three Kings of Orient Are

   Source: hymnary.org” Talk about the meanings of the words in bold for important information and vocabulary building.

2. 1 We three kings of Orient are;
   bearing gifts we traverse afar,
   field and fountain, moor and mountain,
   following yonder star.
   Refrain:
   O star of wonder, star of light,
   star with royal beauty bright,
   westward leading, still proceeding,
   guide us to thy perfect light.
   Refrain:
   O star of wonder, star of light,
   star with royal beauty bright,
   westward leading, still proceeding,
   guide us to thy perfect light.
   2 Born a King on Bethlehem‘s plain,
   gold I bring to crown him again,
   King forever, ceasing never,
   over us all to reign. [Refrain]
   3 Frankincense to offer have I;
   incense owns a Deity nigh;
   prayer and praising, voices raising,
   worshiping God on high. [Refrain]
   4 Myrrh is mine; its bitter perfume
   breathes a life of gathering gloom;
   sorrowing, sighing, bleeding, dying,
   sealed in the stone-cold tomb. [Refrain]
   5 Glorious now behold him arise;
   King and God and sacrifice:
   Alleluia, Alleluia,
   sounds through the earth and skies.”
   [Refrain]
   United Methodist Hymnal, 1989
3. To Hear The Tune

Our Art Project

For a simple art project, use children’s soft pastels on dark-colored construction paper to make a night scene depicting the Baby Jesus in the manger, Mary, The Three Kings, and the brilliant star. You can have the children draw the gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh. The rectangle boxes above the kings’ heads are symbols of the gifts.