I installed our Disney Lionel train set in the home office this year. My boys come in pretty regularly to run the train on its tracks through the mountain and Christmas village. Early on in the Christmas Season, my one year old pulled books from my shelf with various photos. I read different books at random times. Since I lack bookmarks, I use photos to save my place in various books. One photo that laid on the ground caught my attention. It was from my 29th birthday with two special gentlemen in my life Jim (center) and Guido (right) pictured above. It provoked some thought on this Epiphany Season.

I began working at Saint Stephen Parish as a musician right out of high school. Kristine and I were responsible for the 4:30pm Vigil Mass. It was there that I met Jim. Every Saturday without fail, Jim approached us to give us a compliment and thank us for the music.

It was in 2002 when I first stepped into Saint Stephen Parish. It is next to San Francisco State University, where I attended college. That is where I met Guido. He was quick to welcome me and give me the history of the pipe organ. He and his brother donated the Oboe rank. The new pipe organ was installed a few short years earlier. Members of the parish built the encasing of the organ. Guido enjoyed his retired years as a full-time volunteer sacristan.

Our lives came together as we found ourselves at the 8 am daily Mass. We became friends very fast. Guido took us on a tour throughout the Archdiocese. I had mornings free and Jim was in-between jobs. We saw various organs and church buildings. These adventures coupled themselves with Starbucks sit downs and meaningful conversations that I needed in my young adult life.

The three of us collaborated to find a new grand piano for the parish. We also enjoyed bringing a comical show of Late Night Catechism to the parish. We have simply fond memories together!

Jim has since moved to Texas, and Guido has entered eternal life. The three of us were in search of Christ in our lives. I treasure that chapter of my young adult life. I am glad my youngest rearranged my home office. This allowed me to stumble across this old photo.

There were also another three men who searched for the Christ child (according to tradition).

The Magi are unnamed in the scripture, but popular tradition knows them as Caspar, Melchior, and Balthazar. They have spent their lifelong careers in search of truth. They had to look up to see that truth was in their midst, the fulfillment of a promise.

Today’s feast is the pinnacle of the threefold epiphany moments of the life of Christ.

Epiphany comes from the Greek epiphaneia, which means appearance or manifestation. It is God’s way of revealing himself to his people. Christ reveals himself in today’s feast, his Baptism, and the Wedding at Cana.

After Christmas Day, the feast of the Magi is my favorite feast. It’s more than a Hallmark story. It’s a story of a journey toward truth. It’s about God’s immense and creative way of breaking through walls and borders to find us. It’s a cosmological event!

God reaches not only the Jews, but all of humanity by bringing these Magi to adore the Christ Child. Traditionally, the Magi represented various cultures to show that God calls all the nations to Jesus. Fun fact, my wife taught me that in Mexico the Magi are shown riding a horse, camel, and elephant.

Today’s story reminds us that we are never far from God’s reach. We are always on a journey. God is the one seeking us. He comes to us in the most irresistible way: a child.

Finally, today is a cosmological event. The Magi follow the stars to find him. In a world where people worship the cosmological deities, Christ proves his power even as a child. He can command the stars so that we might find him.

Pope Benedict XVI said, “… at the moment when the Magi, guided by the star, adored Christ the new king, astrology came to an end, because the stars were now moving in the orbit determined by Christ.”

In 2025, the Christmas Season concludes with the Feast of the Baptism of the Lord on Sunday, January 12. Although the Christmas Season concludes then, this feast of the Magi is a common time for putting Christmas decorations away. Click here for a prayer you can use before taking down the ornaments and the creche.

As the Magi offered gifts of frankincense, gold, and myrrh, let us give God the great gift of our lives. Delight in this carol, which expresses this very sentiment. Happy Epiphany, everyone!