My sisters and brothers, today’s podcast is focused on the Epiphany of our Lord, which is on the Sunday between January 2 and January 8, depending on which day the Holy Birth of Jesus —Christmas Day, takes place. The reason for these changing dates are not to confuse us, but quite the opposite, to make accessible these Holy Days for us the people. The first Sunday following the Birth of Jesus, the Church celebrates the Feast of the Holy Family. Eight days following the Birth of Jesus, the Octave of Christmas, the Church celebrates the Solemnity of Mary – the Holy Mother of God, which takes place on which ever day the 1st. of January falls on. The second Sunday following the Birth of Jesus, the Church celebrates the Solemnity of the Epiphany of our Lord and the Most Holy Name of Jesus, even though, Epiphany is 12 days after the Birth of Jesus. The third Sunday following the Birth of Jesus, the Church celebrates the Baptism of the Lord, which marks the last day of the Christmas Season, and following the Baptism of the Lord, is the first week of ordinary time. See where I’m going with these specific dates? As I mentioned earlier, these dates are not to confuse us, but rather quite the opposite, they are simply to make accessible to us, these Holy and Blessed Days of the life of Jesus through Holy Scriptures. My song is about the three kings, and how these Wise Men were lead by a guiding Star to the little town of Bethlehem, where they found Baby Jesus in a small and cold stable wrapped in swaddling sheets. They traveled from distant lands and brought their gifts most rare, and placed them with Him there, beside His manger bed, where Jesus laid His head. These wise men knew that Jesus is Lord. We know that Jesus is Lord through history handed down to us, through the Holy Bible. We hear of the Birth of Jesus through the Church’s teachings. And, we may not be following a guiding star, but, we too can come to see this tiny Prince of Peace, we too can come to see this mighty King of kings. We can sing our songs of praise to Him. We, you and I, can also worship and adore Him, for Jesus is the Christ, He is Immanuel, God is with us! In Hebrew, the name Immanuel means, God is with us. What a wonder this is, to know God is with us! Amen.