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| Adoration of the Magi |
1. capitalized : January 6 observed as a church festival in commemoration of the coming of the Magi as the first manifestation of Christ to the Gentiles, or in the Eastern Church in commemoration of Christ’s baptism
2. an appearance or manifestation, especially of a divine being
3. a) a sudden awakening to the essential nature or meaning of something b) an intuitive grasp of reality through something (as an event) usually simple and striking c) any illuminating discovery, realization, or disclosure d) a revealing scene or moment
THREE KINGS of ORIENT
TWO VERSIONS
THE ROBERT SHAW CHORALE
THE CAMBRIDGE SINGERS
Setting by John Rutter
Conducted by John Rutter
Bearing gifts, we traverse afar.
Field and fountain, moor and mountain,
Following yonder star.
O Star of Wonder, Star of Night,
Star with Royal Beauty bright,
Westward leading, Still proceeding,
Guide us to Thy perfect Light.
Caspar:
Born a King on Bethlehem plain,
Gold I bring to crown Him again,
King forever, ceasing never
Over us all to reign.
O Star of Wonder, Star of Night,
Star with Royal Beauty bright,
Westward leading, Still proceeding,
Guide us to Thy perfect Light.
Melchior:
Frankincense to offer have I,
Incense owns a Deity nigh,
Prayer and praising, all men raising,
Worship Him God on high.
O Star of Wonder, Star of Night,
Star with Royal Beauty bright,
Westward leading, Still proceeding,
Guide us to Thy perfect Light.
Balthazar:
Myrrh is mine, it's bitter perfume
Breathes a life of gathering gloom,
Sorrowing, sighing, bleeding, dying,
Sealed in the stone-cold tomb.
O Star of Wonder, Star of Night,
Star with Royal Beauty bright,
Westward leading, Still proceeding,
Guide us to Thy perfect Light.
Glorious now behold Him arise,
King and God and sacrifice!
Heav'n sings Alleluia:
Alleluia the earth replies:
O Star of Wonder, Star of Night,
Star with Royal Beauty bright,
Westward leading, Still proceeding,
Guide us to Thy perfect Light.
~ John Henry Hopkins (1857)
EPIPHANY - something a democrat has never experienced.
ReplyDeleteTHEY don't see it that way, of course, Kid. People of ALL persuasions too often tend to confuse or equate their personal convictions with inarguable TRUTH. Perhaps all of us do.
Delete"We" have gotten sick and tired of "their" militant intolerance, –– as well we should ––, BUT to respond to it "in kind" –– tempting though it be –– is almost certainly a mistake. Gasoline in the fire and all that.
What we see at WYD is what happens when that sort of immature, emotive, endless trading of increasingly juvenile insults is permitted to flourish without moderation.––– The moral equivalent of a out-of-control Food Fight in the Junior High School cafeteria.
If we don't learn to control OURSELVES, sooner or later some tyrant will coe along and FORCE his or her brand of control upon us.
This is why I believe in practicing Christianity, though always imperfectly, I must admit. Any earnest attempt to follow Christ's teachings is bound to help us hold destructive negative emotions and inflammatory invective in check –– to say the least.
It ain't easy, bro, but it's well worth the effort –– or so it has proven to be for me –– all caring and cavilling from the Peanut Gallery notwithstanding.
FT,
ReplyDeleteBeautiful musical selections! Thank you.
Personal story....
When I was growing up, we never celebrated Epiphany. In fact, on New Year's Day down came all Christmas decorations. Christmas was over.
Later, when I was an organist at a Methodist church, I learned about Epiphany. Ever since, I don't take down our Christmas decorations until January 6 -- or even later. One year, I left the decorations up until Valentine's Day.
Our little Nativity Scene, bought piece by piece at the Five and Dime back in the 1950's, is on display here in our house year round in a glass-enclosed case, which all of us pass by several times a day. Celebrating the Savior has become a year round process.
We Three Kings is my favorite Christmas song. The beautiful hymn, composed by Episcopalian John Henry Hopkins, captures the wonder, majesty and purpose for God becoming man on earth so save humankind.
ReplyDeleteSitting in church, singing that third verse about the myrrh, can't help but bring a tinge of tearful sadness, that the little baby shivering in the manger, has come to die for us.