Happy Epiphany!
Epiphany Reflections: The Wise Men aka Magi aka "Three Kings" visited the Christ Child and His parents, the Virgin Mary and St. Joseph the Guardian of Jesus, on January 6th many centuries ago in Roman-occupied Israel. These Wise Men were not actually "Three Kings" in spite of the awesome hymn We Three Kings. The Wise Men aka Magi were Middle Eastern Pagan scholars, who studied the stars. Yahweh decided to catch their attention with the Star of Bethlehem. The Wise Men aka Magi were so impressed with the Star of Bethlehem, that they had to follow it to find the Newborn King of the Jews, Who was Jesus the Messiah. They traveled to Jerusalem probably with a large caravan of people, since travelling alone in the Middle East was dangerous, as it still is today. When the Wise Men aka Magi arrived in the Holy City of Jerusalem, they were surprised, that they did not find the Newborn King of Jews. They found an evil tyrant called King Herod the Great, who was not really all that great and who was probably a fake-Jew. King Herod the Great was stressed out, that the Old Testament Prophesies about the coming Messiah could actually be true. Jerusalem was also surprisingly stressed out with the tyrant. Herod wanted to trick the Wise Men aka Magi into leading him and his soldiers to the Christ Child, so Herod could have the True King of the Jews assassinated. Herod asked the Jewish clergy to look into the Holy Scriptures to find out, where the Messiah was to be born. The Jewish clergy discovered in Micah 5:2, that the Prophet Micah wrote, "But thou, Bethlehem Ephratah, though thou be little among the thousands of Judah, yet out of thee shall He come forth unto me, That is to be Ruler in Israel; Whose goings forth have been from of old, from everlasting" (KJV 1611). Herod told the Wise Men aka Magi, that he wanted to worship the Christ Child, but this was a lie.
The Wise Men then departed to Bethlehem, where Jesus had been born. Upon arriving to house, where young Jesus, the Virgin Mary, and St. Joseph were living, the Wise Men aka the Magi fell down on their knees and worshiped Jesus and they gave Him their gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh. We are not sure, how many Wise Men aka Magi there were. There could have been three of them, since there were three of them, but we really do not know. Travelling around the Middle East made the Wise Men aka Magi sleepy, so they rested and slumbered. While they rested and slumbered, Yahweh caused them to have a dream and in this dream Yahweh warned them to not return to Jerusalem, because Herod was liar and a schmuck, who would murder the Christ Child, so the Wise Men aka Magi went home another way. St. Joseph took the Virgin Mary and young Jesus and they fled to Egypt for several years until Herod's death. Once Herod realized, that the Wise Men aka Magi had tricked him, he was furious and he sent his soldiers to slaughter the little children living in and near Bethlehem. These children of Bethlehem sadly experienced abortion at the hands and swords of Herod's soldiers. These little children died and Jesus was able to escape, so He could someday die for them, for you, for me, and every single person.
Let us read St. Matthew's Gospel Chapter 2:
"1 Now when Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judaea in the days of Herod the king, behold, there came Wise Men from the east to Jerusalem, 2 Saying, 'Where is He, That is born King of the Jews? For we have seen His Star in the east, and are come to worship Him.' 3 When Herod the king had heard these things, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him. 4 And when he had gathered all the chief priests and scribes of the people together, he demanded of them, where Christ should be born. 5 And they said unto him, 'In Bethlehem of Judaea: for thus it is written by the Prophet, '6 And thou Bethlehem, in the land of Juda (Judah), art not the least among the princes of Juda (Judah): for out of thee shall come a Governor, That shall rule My people Israel.'' 7 Then Herod, when he had privily (secretly) called the Wise Men, enquired of them diligently, what time the Star appeared. 8 And he sent them to Bethlehem, and said, 'Go and search diligently for the young Child; and when ye have found Him, bring me word again, that I may come and worship Him also.' 9 When they had heard the king, they departed; and, lo, the Star, which they saw in the east, went before them, till it came and stood over, where the young Child was. 10 When they saw the Star, they rejoiced with exceeding great joy. 11 And when they were come into the house, they saw the young Child with Mary His Mother, and fell down, and worshipped Him: and when they had opened their treasures, they presented unto Him gifts; gold, and frankincense and myrrh. 12 And being warned of God in a dream, that they should not return to Herod, they departed into their own country another way.
13 And when they were departed, behold, the Angel of the LORD appeareth to Joseph in a dream, saying, 'Arise, and take the young Child and His Mother, and flee into Egypt, and be thou there, until I bring thee word: for Herod will seek the young Child to destroy Him.' 14 When he arose, he took the young Child and His Mother by night, and departed into Egypt: 15 And was there until the death of Herod: that it might be fulfilled, which was spoken of the Lord by the Prophet, saying, 'Out of Egypt have I called My Son.'
16 Then Herod, when he saw, that he was mocked of the Wise Men, was exceeding wroth, and sent forth, and slew all the children, that were in Bethlehem, and in all the coasts thereof, from two years old and under, according to the time, which he had diligently inquired of the Wise Men. 17 Then was fulfilled, that, which was spoken by Jeremiah the Prophet, saying, '18 In Rama was there a voice heard, lamentation, and weeping, and great mourning, Rachel weeping for her children, and would not be comforted, because they are not.'
19 But when Herod was dead, behold, an Angel of the LORD appeareth in a dream to Joseph in Egypt, 20 Saying, 'Arise, and take the young Child and His Mother, and go into the land of Israel: for they are dead, which sought the young Child's Life.' 21 And he arose, and took the young Child and His Mother, and came into the land of Israel. 22 But when he heard, that Archelaus did reign in Judaea in the room of his father Herod, he was afraid to go thither: notwithstanding, being warned of God in a dream, he turned aside into the parts of Galilee: 23 And he came and dwelt in a city called Nazareth: that it might be fulfilled, which was spoken by the Prophets, 'He shall be called a Nazarene'" (KJV 1611).
My Green Irish Angel Statues: My Green Irish Angel Statues are really cute! They are only $1 each and they make great gifts. I have three kinds: 1. Cross-Bearing Angels, 2. Praying Angels, and 3. Angels Holding Butterflies. I like the Cross-Bearing Angels the best, because they are carrying Crosses. Each one bearing a Cross reminds us, that Jesus died on the True Cross to save every single person from death, Hell, Satan, Satan's Demons, Original Sin from Adam and Eve, and their personal sins. They're available exclusively at Jen's Furniture and Collectibles (JFC) on the corner High Street and Chestnut Street in between Circle K Gas Station and Zion Lutheran Church (NALC) in St. Marys, Ohio.
Stores Carrying My Books: My books, which I’ve written and published, are also available at the following stores: Brunner News Agency on Flanders Avenue in Lima, Ohio, Jen’s Furniture and Collectibles (JFC) on High Street in St. Marys, Ohio, The Menagerie at 1178 Indiana Avenue in the St. Marys Business Complex in St. Marys, Ohio, Readmore Hallmark Stores out at Eastgate Plaza and on Elm Street in Lima, Ohio, Wagner’s IGA Grocery Store in Minster, Ohio, and in the Shop section of my website ohioirishlutheranpress.com .
Thank you and Happy Epiphany!
James W. O’Flannery, President and Founder of Ohio Irish Lutheran Press (OIL Press)