Today is the feast of the Epiphany of Our Lord Jesus Christ, although liturgically the United States celebrates it on Sunday.
Epiphany
I heard the preacher speaking,
and of miracles I heard,
the wine of revelation
from the water of our words.
I heard of men and women
in humility of ways
transfigured to the glory
of the Ancient One of Days
(first river-bathed and lustral
in the waters of the earth,
then drunken, full of Spirit,
with the Wine of heaven's birth),
of wisdom-seeking sages
who had sought the Good by star
and found it with its Mother
where the Jewish peoples are,
the True in swaddled clothing --
thus their wise philosophy
was turned, like wedding-water,
to that wine, epiphany.
Feast of the Glorious Epiphany
Are You not, O Lord, the Way,
through whose bright lustral waters
we become children of God,
those in whom He is well pleased?
And are You not He, O Lord,
by whose light the nations came
to find their great salvation
and rejoice to know their King?
By You, forgiving Ember,
the waters were filled with light,
for in Your light we see light,
and are illuminated.
In the river called Jordan
one God was manifested:
the Father declared His Son
with the Spirit upon Him.
Christ was born and was baptized
that we might be saved by Him;
that simple creature, water,
was exalted to serve God.
None can enter the kingdom
save by water and Spirit,
save by being adopted,
being washed in the Jordan.
Today the waters are blessed,
set aflame with holiness;
our leprosies are thus healed
by the salvation of God.
The grace of God dawns on us
for holy lives of justice,
that we may be set apart
and seek to do noble deeds.
Star of Bethlehem
My Cousin, God, and King,
my myrrh and frankincense
and gold I bring to give,
my treasure and worship
and human sympathy,
an offering complete.
With threefold gift I kneel,
with threefold heart I pray,
after too-long journey.
I looked for signs and saw
Your sign, drawing to You,
the language of heaven.
I asked for wise counsel,
consulted prophecies,
and so I came to You.
Reason and human aid
have lit the path like stars
that I may give my gifts,
until this rough stable,
this unexpected throne
of an ox's manger,
an end I had not thought,
and You, to whom I pray,
my Cousin, God, and King.
