My Grandma Szlavik called it Drei Könige, reflecting her European upbringing where Three Kings or Epiphany Day was a big deal. In the U.S., however, Epiphany passes with little note unless you’re in a place like Miami or Tarpon Springs,  .

A typical German hymn for Epiphany would be “How brightly Shines the Morning Star.” A familiar English carol is “We Three Kings.” I’ll toss in Nikolai F. S. Gruntvig’s happy hymn for children “Bright and Glorious is the Sky” to please my Danish friends and relatives.*

Sages from the East afar,
When they saw this wondrous star,
Went to the find the King of nations,
And to offer their oblations
Unto Him as Lord and King,

As a star God’s holy Word
Leads us to our King and Lord;
Brightly from its sacred pages
Shall this light throughout the ages
Shine upon our path of life.

I like Christmas songs that connect us to the story of Christ. We know how the Magi, inspired by the star, traveled to Jerusalem and then Bethlehem seeking the newborn King. Our inspiration comes not from a star, but from the Word of God in the Scriptures. We are lead to Christ through the Word.

Epiphany means manifestation, a showing of God in the world. Traditionally, the Epiphany theme is seen in Scripture in Christ’s birth, the coming of the Wisemen, the baptism of Jesus, and the miracle at Cana. How is Christ present to us today? How do we become an Epiphany of Christ to the world? Give it a thought this season.

Read Matthew 2:1-12 and remember: God loves YOU unconditionally.

Wayne

* This is a congregation at a Lutheran Church in Denmark singing all 19 verses. I love the range of ages.