This is the 12th day after Christmas. In the Christian tradition this is the moment the three Wise Men came to the baby Jesus with their gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh,
Only Matthew of the four gospels has this story. Most of the details are from tradition and not the Bible.
This spare account has given rise to numerous theological interpretations. A traditional one is that this event first signifies that the Jesus’ life was for the entire world not just the Jewish community.
The central action is kneeling to present the Wise Men’s gifts. And many commentaries about this passage discuss how difficult and yet important is offering the proper gift to a person or for a special occasion.
O. Henry’s short story, The Gift of the Magi, is an insightful interpretation of rhe meaning of gifts. It tells how a young couple, living in want, try to find the perfect present for each other at Christmas. The woman sells her waist long long hair to a whig store to have enough money to purchase a fob chain for her husband’s family pocket watch. He in turn sells his watch to buy special combs for her long, beautiful hair.
There is nothing in O. Henry’s account of kings or mangers or gold, frankincense, and myrrh. Rather it portrays love’s selfless giving for another person.
Epiphany’s Secular Meaning
A more frequent use of the word epiphany is a sudden insight, an awakening or unexpected moment of meaning.
The world today overwhelms many beit from the personal to the national or even global events. Many are uncertain how to live what some might call our authentic selves. That is a sense of purpose or meaning or accomplishment that gets us out of bed each morning. How can I make a difference?
Everyone seeks to enhance their role in life just as the Shepard boy in the Christmas chorale asks, What gift can I give him poor as I am?
O. Henry’s story suggests this desire is not about material accomplishments, although that is often our first response.
Recently at the intermission in a live holiday stage musical, I heard the following conversation between persons sitting next to me. One was a young man out of college, the second his grandpa. The conversation went something like this: S: grandson; G: Grandpa
S: I have signed up for a bone marrow donation in a couple of weeks.
G: Isn’t that painful?
S: They will drill two holes in my hip bones to extract the marrow. But they give you anesthetic the whole time.
G: How did you get called for this?
S: When we donated blood on a drive last spring in college, they asked if we wanted to be a donor, and I checked yes. Then I was called they had found a match.
G: Do you know anything about the patient? What is the disease?
S: I know she is 16 has a cancer called aplastic anemia.
G: Will you get to meet her?
S: If everything goes OK, I could see her in about a year.
The second half of the play began, ending the talk.
This conversation gave me a feeling of great hope. Here is young person starting out in life and career, giving the gift of life to someone he does not know.
This brief event was an unexpected, almost liminal experience. These two youngsters have discovered a way of living and giving that many need the entire arc of life to learn. With character like this, our future is in good hands.