"Justice shall flower in his days, and profound peace, till the moon be no more.” – Psalm 72:7
This Sunday we will celebrate the glorious day on which the Newborn King was revealed to the world through Three Wise Men from distant lands who came to pay him homage. There is a beautiful little ritual used to bless churches and homes in commemoration of this day. In addition to a series of prayers, the ritual involves writing an inscription in chalk above the doorframe of the church or home. This year the inscription will read: 20+C+M+B+16.
As you might guess, 20 and 16 refer to the year. But, what do the C, M, and B stand for? There are two meanings. C, M, and B can represent the initials of the traditional names of the Three Wise Men: Caspar, Melchior, and Balthasar. The letters may also stand for the Latin phrase Christus Mansionem Benedicat, which means “Christ bless this house.”
Indeed, that is the good news of Epiphany – Christ has come to bless every home, every place, and every nation on earth. He has come to bring the kingdom of God to every corner of the world. In the end, every home and every heart that opens its door to God’s love will be flooded with the glory of that kingdom.
To share in the kingdom, we must follow the example of the Wise Men. It says in Matthew’s Gospel that upon seeing the Child Jesus they “prostrated themselves and did him homage” (2:11). If you look at the word “homage,” you can see that it is related to the French word homme, which means “man.” Allow me to explain: In the Middle Ages, feudal peasants pledged their allegiance to landowning lords or kings and paid them homage in return for protection and use of their land. Thus, an homager literally made himself “the king’s man” and a vassal of the lord.
That is precisely what the Three Wise Men were doing when they fell prostrate before the Newborn King. They were placing themselves under his rule, protection, and providence. They were pledging allegiance to the King of Kings, the Lord of Lords, and the Prince of Peace. To pay their homage, the Three Wise Men “opened their treasures and offered him gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh” (Matt. 2:11).
You too can become “the King’s man.” You too can offer Him gold by giving alms to the poor. You too can surround Him with the sweet scent of incense when you sacrifice your own desires for the good of another. You too can sooth His Sacred Heart with the holy ointment of myrrh when you show others mercy.
So, will you pledge your allegiance to the Lord? Will you pay your homage to Christ the King? Will you open the treasure in your chest – your heart – and allow Him inside?
Christ Jesus, bless our homes and fill our hearts with your love, your peace, and your mercy. Amen.