On the Fourth Day

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Prayer of the Novena

O holy Magi,
who when deserted by the star
in the city of Jerusalem,
sought humbly the place
where you might discover
the object of your journey,
obtain for us the grace to have recourse,
in faith and humility,
in all our doubts and perplexities
to the counsel of our superiors,
who hold the place of God on earth.

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.

Meditation

Matthew tells the story of some spiritual seekers who are led to Christ in a unique way.
"When Jesus was born in the village of Bethlehem in Judea, Herod was king. During this time some Magi from the east came to Jerusalem.” (Matthew 2:1)
The magi (sometimes called “wise men”) were priests from the East, known to possess supernatural knowledge and power. They were particularly interested in astrology. They didn’t believe in the one, true God of Israel. But, they were, as William Barclay points out, “good and holy men, who sought the truth.” These magi see a star in the sky they believe marks the birth of a king. This inspires them to go to Jerusalem and ask – "Where is the newborn King of the Jews? We saw his star at its rising and have come to worship him." (Matthew 2:2)

People have tried to explain this star in various ways – Halley’s comet, a new star (or supernova), or the conjunction of Jupiter and Saturn. But Matthew isn’t trying here to describe a natural phenomenon. The important thing here is that God uses nature in a supernatural way to lead the magi to His son. God will do whatever it takes to bring people to Christ.

But there are always those who resist God’s ways. We see this in Herod: "When King Herod heard this, he was startled, and so was all Jerusalem with him." (Matthew 2:3)
Now, Herod had his good qualities. He built the Temple in Jerusalem. He reduced taxes for the poor and, during a famine, he gave away his gold to feed the people. But Herod had one fatal flaw. He was violently suspicious. He tried to get rid of anything that might pose a threat to his throne. Hearing about a newborn King of the Jews, he springs into action. He gathers together the religious leaders and determines that God’s chosen ruler is to be born in Bethlehem. He calls on the magi and finds out when the star first appeared. Then,"he sent them to Bethlehem and said, 'Go and search carefully for the child; and when you have found him, let me know, so I can come and worship him.'" (Matthew 2:8)

Herod shows us the hypocrisy that is all too common in the world. He says he wants to come and worship Christ, but he has hidden motives. In Herod, we find a prime example of one way people respond to Christ – with hatred and hostility. Herod, like many people today, does not want anything to interfere with his life, his status, his power, his influence. His instinct is to destroy Christ rather than receive him. Many people are like this – they go out of their way to criticize and condemn Christ because they don’t want him to change their lives.

The magi’s response is just the opposite. Having heard the prophecy in Scripture that the Savior would be born in Bethlehem, they set out and "the star they had seen at its rising went ahead of them until it stopped over the place where the child was. When they saw the star, they were filled with joy!" (Matthew 2:9b-10)

The magi are thrilled to be led by God. They are guided in two ways. First, they see God’s sign in nature – the star in the sky. Next, they hear God’s Word in Scripture. There are many people in the world who sincerely want to know what is right and do what is best and yet they don’t know God’s Word.
Are you a spiritual seeker? Are you looking for a word of guidance?
Look to the Word that gives life to all good words… of encouragement, of comfort, of hope… in Christ.

"For Spiritual Seekers - An Epiphany Reflection," by Tony Roberts, blogger, and author of Delight in Disorder: Ministry, Madness, Mission. 

Hymn: Crudelis Herodes, Deum

This is the Vespers hymn on the Feast of the Epiphany. 

Latin text:

Crudelis Herodes, Deum,
Regem venire quid times?
Non eripit mortalia,
Qui regna dat cælestia.

Ibant Magi, quam viderant,
Stellam sequentes præviam;
Lumen requirunt lumine:
Deum fatentur munere.

Lavacra puri gurgitis
Cælestis Agnus attigit:
Peccata, quae non detulit,
Nos abluendo sustulit.

Novum genus potentiæ:
Aquae rubescunt hydriæ,
Vinumque jussa fundere,
Mutavit unda originem.

Jesu, tibi sit gloria,
Qui apparuisti gentibus,
Cum Patre, et almo Spiritu,
In sempiterna sæcula.

English translation:

Why impious Herod, vainly fear
That Christ the Saviour cometh here?
He takes no earthly realms away
Who gives the crown that lasts for aye.

To greet His birth the Wise Men went,
Led by the star before them sent;
Called on by light, towards Light they pressed,
And by their gifts their God confessed.

In holy Jordan's purest wave
The heavenly Lamb vouchsafed to lave;
That He, to whom was sin unknown,
Might cleanse His people from their own.

New miracle of power divine!
The water reddens into wine:
He spake the word: and poured the wave
In other streams than nature gave.

All glory, Lord, to Thee we pay
For Thine Epiphany to-day:
All glory, as is ever meet,
To Father and to Paraclete.

Picture: Star of Bethlehem, by Waldemar Flaig, 1920. CC0 Public Domain. 

Community prayer

Prayer to Our Lady of the Epiphany

O Lady of the Epiphany, Most-Holy-Name-of-Mary, Through your power, glory, and love, Show us your salvation – Jesus Christ. As the shepherds of Bethlehem came to you long ago, We now come before you. With Jesus Christ reigning in your arms, We also bow in awe. O Queen and intimate friend, Remember our poverty. We beg you, O tender Mother, to hold our hands And listen closely to the desires and needs of our hearts. Mary, please remember: [State your request…]. Through your powerful intercession obtain for us The beautiful manifestation of your Divine Son In the lives of those for whom we pray. Mystical glorious woman crowned with stars, Obtain the miracles and heavenly signs Our dear ones need to find and embrace Jesus Christ, the King of Kings. Mary, we promise to amend our lives And implore you to reveal the treasures of your heart to us, Your poor children, at this time. Amen.

Thank you! 23 people prayed

Let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how you ought to answer everyone. Col 4:6

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Novena of Preparation for the Epiphany

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