Christmas not over yet?

By Herbert Vego

 

THE Christmas season traditionally ends on January 6 (come Wednesday) — the 12^th day of Christmas, counting from the first day after December 25.

The Epiphany or Three Kings’ Day commemorates principally the visit of the “three kings” to the child Jesus. In the gospel of Matthew, the birth of Jesus coincided with the appearance of an extraordinary celestial body: a “star” which led the magi or “wise men” to Jesus. This star “went before them, till it came and stood over where the young child was.” They offered him gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh.

The Roman Catholic Church attaches symbolic importance to these gifts –

the gold representing his royal standing; frankincense his divine birth; and myrrh his mortality.

The earliest reference to the “three kings” sprang from the song “We Three Kings of Orient Are,” which was written by Reverend John Henry Hopkins Jr. of the Episcopal Church while serving as music director of the General Theological Seminary in New York City in 1857.

The Gospel of Matthew says that the men found the divine child by following a star across the desert for twelve days to Bethlehem, presumably by camel or horse. The Catholic Church has identified them as Melchor, Caspar, and Balthazar even if they are not so identified in the Bible.

There is no Biblical reference to the three gift givers, however, as kings of whatever places. The Bible, on the contrary, alludes to the “wise men from the East” as astrologers.

Here’s why: Their “search” for Jesus began in compliance with the order of Israel’s King Herod, who wanted the child killed (Matthew 2:7).

Contrary to popular belief, they did not arrive at the manger on the night of Christ’s birth; rather, they found the young Jesus and His parents living in a house – no longer in a manger. This could have been nearly two years after Christ’s birth, since Herod – fearful of a threat to his position as king –tried to have Jesus eliminated by killing all male children under the age of two.

It was only after the magi had met with Herod that the “bright star” shone, guided them to Bethlehem and hovered over the location of Jesus. The appearance of the miraculous “star” was probably the miracle that emboldened the “three kings” to disobey the order of Herod.

Hence, with their change of heart, they proceeded to see the child Jesus with no more evil motive. They never returned to Herod with “mission accomplished.”

No known natural phenomenon would be able to stand over Bethlehem since all “natural” stars seem to rise in the east and set in the west, or circle around the celestial poles. Being millions of light years away by astronomers’ standard, there’s no way a star could have gone ahead to pinpoint the location over where the child was.

Theologians argue, however, that God works in mysterious ways. For the same reason, they say, the Virgin Birth itself was a supernatural event that could not be explained within the context of known natural laws.

Dr. Jason Lisle, an American astrophysics professor at the University of Colorado, has said in a lecture on the gospel of Matthew, chapter 2:

“The magi already knew that Christ was in Bethlehem. This they had learned from Herod, who had learned it from the priests and scribes. Whatever the exact mechanism, the fact that the star led the magi to Christ is evidence that the star was uniquely designed, made by God for a very special purpose. God can use extraordinary means for extraordinary purposes.”

It is easy for Christians to agree with the lecturer. It could be defended by quoting the verse that “the heavens declare the glory of God. . .” (Psalm 19:1).

Strange as it seems, most Christians still cling to the unsubstantiated belief that the magi were the “three kings” Melchor, Caspar, and Balthazar who allegedly represented Europe, Arabia, and Africa, respectively.

But if they were, why would they be afraid of a fellow king, Herod of Israel?

By that logic, other Christians – particularly the Jejovah’s Witnesses — disagree with the idea that the wise men were God-sent. On the contrary, they believe that the context of Matthew 2 suggests no three kings but astrologers who took off on a mission for Herod, who was aching to kill the baby Jesus.

Therefore, the celebration of Three Kings on the 12^th day of Christmas (January 6), like the date of Jesus’ birthday (December 25), is another apocryphal Christmas tale.

 

MORE’S CORPORATE SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY

THE Iloilo City government and nine private charitable institutions were the 10 beneficiaries of MORE Power’s corporate social responsibility during the Christmas season.

In behalf of the Iloilo City Covid-19 Molecular Laboratory, Mayor Jerry P. Treñas thanked MORE President Roel Z. Castro for the P50,000 donation that would go a long way in the purchase of “consumables” needed by returning natives from Manila and other places.

Castro said that because of the exigency of the pandemic, instead of giving gifts to individuals, they decided to donate to organizations engaged in charitable work so that the less fortunate would benefit.

The nine other beneficiaries of the P50,000 donation, according to MORE Power spokesman Jonathan Cabrera, are the Philippine Red Cross (Iloilo chapter), Asilo de Molo, Colegio de San Jose Daughters of Charity, Jaro Archdiocese Social Action Center (JASAC), Iloilo Two Hearts Foundation, Iloilo City District Jail Female Lab, Assumption Iloilo Educational Foundation, Carmelite Sisters and the Philippine Catholic HIV and AIDS Network.

Cabrera added that MORE Power’s technical people are always on 24-hour alert for circumstances that could cause power failures and harm the public.

You see, some people have been wondering why MORE technicians tend to trim tree branches that tend to touch live wires. Wood is not supposed to be a conductor of electricity!

The fact is that a live tree conducts electricity because its sap contains water, hence could short-circuit electricity, and ignite a spark that could lead to a full-blown fire.

That circumstance was what caused a recent trip-off at Feeder 2 of the Mandurriao substation.

 

So, if you happen to see a tree limb resting on a power line anywhere In Iloilo City, call MORE Power for prompt action using these 24/7 hotlines:

PLDT: (033) 3272985 / (033) 3236619

GLOBE: 09176375214

SMART: 09190720626