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Game Recognizes Game
Elite athletes will sometimes say that “game recognizes game” (or occasionally more grammatically suspect variants of that). By this is meant that someone who is particularly skilled at something is uniquely qualified to acknowledge a similarly high skill level in another.
Jesus’ lordship is not revealed primarily through the studied recognition of the experts (“you have hidden these things from the wise and the intelligent and have revealed them to infants,” Matt. 11:25, NRSVUE).
But the tribute offered by the Magi still communicates something important about Christ as King. His coming is celebrated by both the simple (shepherds) and the learned (wise men). Psalm 72 amplifies kings recognizing kingship in vv. 10-11, which is echoed when the Magi bring Jesus gifts.
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The Darkness of Epiphany: Herod’s Murdering of the Innocents
Presentations of the Matthean narrative that have had such an illustrious life in art and imagination are not complete without the disturbing involvement of Herod and the political killings that resul... -
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Game Recognizes Game
Elite athletes will sometimes say that “game recognizes game” (or occasionally more grammatically suspect variants of that). By this is meant that someone who is particularly skilled at something is u... -
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The Legend of La Befana
If we’re ever concerned with being wrapped up in Christmas busyness, it may be worth considering the Italian legend of La Befana. The elderly Befana was in her home when suddenly she was visited by th... -
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Was the Star of Bethlehem a Comet?
As early as AD 248, Origen suggested that the star of Bethlehem was a comet—and there continue to be astronomers who think that he was right. Comets are icy objects that orbit the sun. When seen fro... -
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The Feast of Light
Epiphany is sometimes called the “Feast of Light.” Epiphany remembers the revelation of Jesus as king and Messiah to the gentiles when the Magi visited the young Jesus. The Wise Men are the first ge... -
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Chalking the Door
In many parts of the world, on Epiphany, you will see a strange formula chalked above the doors of local homes. In 2024, it would read: 20 ✝ C ✝ M ✝ B ✝ 24 The “chalking of the doors” is an ... -
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Baptism and Epiphany
Before child baptism was common in the early Church, Epiphany was a special holy day for baptism. This is because Epiphany is traditionally associated with the baptism of Jesus by John in the Jordan. ... -
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Christmas: A Tradition of Gift-Giving
While Christmas traditions vary the world over, gift-giving is a central practice just about anywhere Christ's birth is celebrated. Sometimes gifts are exchanged on December 6, the feast day of S... -
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The Twelfth Day of Christmas
In many Christian lands Epiphany is the most important feast of Christmas. Especially in Latin countries the arrival of the Wise Men, the Three Kings, looms large in the imagination. My native city, N... -
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The Destruction Fear can Leave In Its Wake
Herod symbolizes the terrible destruction that fearful people can leave in their wake if their fear is unacknowledged, if they have power but can only use it in furtive, pathetic, and futile attempts ...
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