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Celebrating Epiphany with the Kings of the East
During Advent, as we prepared to celebrate the coming of Jesus into the world, we were reminded that here at St. Francis there is room for the stranger. Now the visit of the magi marks the light of faith coming to not only to those within the Jewish community, but also to the gentiles and the world. Through this encounter, God shed the light of faith on all of humanity and invites each of us into His life as we invite him into our homes. The Three Kings came bearing gifts to share with the Child Jesus, but they left with the gift of salvation.
The gospel tells us that the magi found Christ “on entering the house”. The door to your home is a holy threshold and it is fitting to bless your door in January - janua means 'door' and the first month is the door to the new year. This Sunday you are invited to take home a packet containing blessed chalk with a blessing prayer. While praying the blessing prayer, use the blessed chalk to mark the main entrance to your house or apartment with the symbols: 20 C + M + B 09. "Christus Mansionem Benedicat" or "May Christ bless this dwelling". Tradition also tells us that the letters stand for the names of the three kings Caspar, Melchior and Balthasar - as we ask their intercession of God on our own homes.
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