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The momentous witness of the wise men

Prayer
Epiphany of the Lord - C
Matthew 2:1-12
Dennis Koch
Contemporary Lectionary Prayers
Based Upon Cycle C Lectionary Gospels
Gospel Theme:

The momentous witness of the wise men

Gospel Note:
Read as a kerygmatic statement rather than an historical account, this story of (unnumbered) Eastern wise men (astrologers, not kings) and their coming to witness the child (not baby) Jesus in a house (not a stable) as a result of having followed ''his star's rising'' (not a star in the East) is Matthew's declaration of the cosmic and universal significance of the appearance of Jesus. Ancient peoples considered extraordinary celestial phenomena portents of momentous events.
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