Dear sisters and brothers in Christ,

Although the gospel of Matthew does not name them, tradition has given names to the Magi, also known as the Three Kings, whose journey to the infant Jesus in Bethlehem is recounted on Epiphany.

Caspar, young and of darker hue representing Asians, carried frankincense to honor Jesus’ divinity; Melchior, an old white man with a long white beard representing Caucasians, bore the gift of gold to honor Jesus’ royalty; and Balthasar, a black man representing Africans, offered the burial herb myrrh to anticipate Jesus’ suffering and death. Translate St. Jerome’s commentary on Matthew into English rhyme, and you readily remember, “Myrrh, frankincense, and gold they bring, To a man, a God, and a king.”

January 6, the twelfth day of the Christmas season, is the traditional date of Epiphany. Puerto Ricans know Epiphany as Los Tres Reyes or the Feast of the Three Kings. While Anglos look for Santa Claus to visit their Christmas tree with gifts, Latinos leave shoes, straw, and carrots at their door on Epiphany. During the night, the Three Kings take the straw and carrots for their camels and leave gifts in the shoes.

The Church has a new year’s Blessing of the Home that recalls the Three Kings. The Blessing calls for a minister or parent to mark with chalk the inside of the main door with the initials of the three kings “C+M+B” and the current year 2021 connected with crosses, so it reads, “20 C+M+B 21.” Another explanation of the initials CMB is that they are the first letters of the blessing, “Christus mansionem benedicat” from the Latin, “May Christ bless the house”.

To ask the Lord to bless your home, gather at the front door all the members of your bubble.

Light a candle to represent Christ the Light. Get your bottle of holy water ready.

Begin at the front door with the sign of the cross,

“In the name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit.”

Pray,

“Lord God of heaven and earth,

you revealed your only-begotten Son

to every nation by the guidance of a star.

Bless this home and all who inhabit it.

Fill them with the light of Christ,

that their concern for others may reflect your love.

We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen.”

One person chalks above the door “20 C+M+B 21” while another says, “The three wise men, Caspar, Melchior, and Balthasar, followed the star of God’s Son who became man two thousand and twenty-one years ago. May Christ bless our dwelling and remain with us throughout the new year.”

Walk with the lit candle through the house sprinkling all the rooms--bedrooms, kitchen, family room, dining room, garage, even bathrooms--with holy water. Sprinkle the people present.

End together with the Lord’s Prayer,

“Our Father who art in heaven….”

In blessing your home, you place your home and family under the Lord’s protection and in his service. Everything belongs to the Lord.

Blessed Three Kings Day!

Father David