Epiphany

Matthew 2:9-11a
“When [the wise men] had heard the king, they set out; and there, ahead of them, went the star that they had seen at its rising, until it stopped over the place where the child was. When they saw that the star had stopped, they were overwhelmed with joy. On entering the house, they saw the child with Mary his mother; and they knelt down and paid him homage.”

The feast of Epiphany brings the Christmas season to a close with a celebration of God’s glory revealed in Jesus Christ. On this special day we remember what the Gospel writer Matthew tells us: “When [the wise men] had heard the king, they set out; and there, ahead of them, went the star that they had seen at its rising, until it stopped over the place where the child was. When they saw that the star had stopped, they were overwhelmed with joy. On entering the house, they saw the child with Mary his mother; and they knelt down and paid him homage.” Matthew 2:9-11a

Because the wise men found Jesus in a house, there is a rich tradition of blessing our homes on this day of Epiphany. You are invited you take a piece of chalk and write this above your main door: 20 + CMB + 21. The numbers change with each new year. The letters stand for either the ancient Latin blessing Christe mansionem benedicat, which means, “Christ, bless this house,” or the legendary names of the magi (Caspar, Melchior, and Balthasar).

Proverbs 24:3-4 are the perfect verses to read as part of the blessing. “By wisdom a house is built and through understanding it is established; through knowledge its rooms are filled with rare and beautiful treasures.”

O God, you revealed your Son to all people by the shining light of a star. We pray that you bless this home and all who live here with your gracious presence. May your love be our inspiration, your wisdom our guide, your truth our light, and your peace our benediction; through Christ our Lord. Amen.

Written by Pastor Michelle Oetken

Pastor Michelle answered God’s call to serve at Sheridan in 2014 and shepherds our ministries of Confirmation, Youth and Young Adults. Her first 15 years of ministry were spent as solo Pastor in McCool Junction and Wausa, NE.
In addition to spending time in the parish, she has also served on the synod boards of NLOM and Global Ministry. Michelle is married to Rich and they have two beautiful children, Jonathon and Krista. In her spare time, she enjoys growing in her knowledge of American Sign Language, playing piano and crafting.