Epiphany Hymn 15: Mary and the Magi

At the birth of the Son light dawned,

and darkness fled from the world,

and the earth was enlightened. So let it give glory

to the radiance of the Father, who has enlightened it!

He dawned from the womb of the Virgin,

and the shadows passed away when he was seen,

and the darkness of error was strangled by him,

and the ends of the earth were enlightened, so that they might give glory.

Among the peoples there was great commotion,

and in the darkness the light dawned,

and the nations rejoiced to give glory

to him at whose birth they were all enlightened.

His light shone out over the east;

Persia was enlightened by the star.

His Epiphany brought her good news and invited her:

“He has come for the sacrifice that brings joy to all.”

The star of light hurried and came and dawned

through the darkness, and summoned them,

so that the peoples might come and exult

in the great Light that has come down to earth.

One envoy from among the stars

the sky sent out to proclaim to them,

to the sons of Persia, so that they might make ready

to meet the King and to worship him.

Great Assyria, when she perceived it,

called the Magi and said to them,

“Take gifts and go; honor him,

the great King who has dawned in Judea.”

The princes of Persia, exulting,

carried gifts from their region,

and they brought to the Son of the Virgin

gold and myrrh and frankincense.

They went in and found him as a child,

living in the house of the lowly woman;

and they drew near and worshiped with gladness,

and set their treasures before him.

Mary said,

“For whom are these, and for what purpose?

And what is the cause that has called you

to come from your country

to the Child with your treasures?”

They said,

“Your Son is a King,

and he binds on crowns and is King of all;

and great is his power over the world,

and all will obey his kingdom.”

“When did this ever happen,

that a lowly woman should give birth to a King?

I, who am in need and in want,

how then could a king come forth from me?”

“In you alone has this happened,

that a mighty King should appear from you;

you, in whom poverty will be made great,

and to your Son crowns will be made subject.”

“Treasures of kings I do not have;

riches have never fallen to my lot.

My house is lowly and my dwelling poor;

why then do you proclaim that my Son is King?”

“Great treasure is in your Son,

and wealth enough to make all rich;

for the treasures of kings run out,

but he never fails, nor can he be measured.”

“Inquire whether the King who is born

is perhaps someone else for you.

This is the son of a lowly woman,

of one who is not fit to look upon a king.”

“Can light ever miss

the way on which it has been sent?

It was not darkness that summoned and led us;

in light we walked, and your Son is King.”

“Look, you see a baby who cannot speak,

and his mother’s house empty and poor,

and nothing that belongs to a king is in it:

how then is a king to be seen in it?”

“Look, we see that the King

is without speech and at rest, and lowly, as you have said;

but we also see that he bids the stars

on high hurry to proclaim him.”

“It would be right, you men, for you to inquire

who the King is, and then adore him,

in case your way has gone wrong,

and the King who is born is someone else.”

“It would be right, young woman, for you to accept

that we have learned that your Son is King

from the star of light that does not err;

the way is plain, and he has led us.”

“The Child is little, and look, he does not have

the diadem of a king, or a throne;

and what have you seen, that you should honor him

as a king, with your treasures?”

“He is little because he willed it, for the sake of quiet,

and meek now until he is revealed.

A time will come for him when all diadems

will bow down and worship him.”

“He has no armies;

my Son has no legions or troops;

he lives in his mother’s poverty;

why then do you call him King?”

“The armies of your Son are above;

they ride on high, and they blaze,

and it was one of them that came and summoned us,

and our whole country was dismayed.”

“The Child is a baby; how is it possible

that he should be King, unknown to the world?

And those who are mighty and famous,

how can a baby be their ruler?”

“Your baby is old, O Virgin,

the Ancient of Days, exalted above all,

and beside him Adam is a mere baby,

and in him all created things are made new.”

“It is very fitting that you should set out

the whole mystery and explain it:

who it is that reveals to you the mystery of my Son,

that he is a King in your region.”

“It is just as fitting for you to accept this:

that unless the truth had led us,

we would not have wandered here from the ends of the earth,

nor come for the sake of your Son.”

“The whole mystery, as it was worked

among you there in your country,

reveal to me now as friends.

Who was it that called you to come to me?”

“A mighty Star appeared to us,

glorious far beyond the stars,

and our land was kindled by its fire;

it brought us the news that this King had appeared.”

“Do not, I beg you, speak of

these things in our land, or they will rage,

and the kings of the earth will join together

against the Child in their envy.”

“Do not be dismayed, O Virgin!

Your Son will bring all diadems to nothing,

and set them under his heel;

and they will not subdue the one they envy.”

“I am afraid because of Herod,

that unclean wolf, that he may attack me,

and draw his sword and with it cut off

the sweet cluster before it is ripe.”

“Do not be afraid because of Herod;

for his throne is placed in the hands of your Son,

and as soon as your Son reigns it will be laid low,

and his diadem will fall to the earth beneath.”

“Jerusalem is a torrent of blood,

in which the excellent are killed;

and if she becomes aware of him, she will attack him.

Speak in secret, and do not spread it abroad.”

“All torrents, and swords as well,

will be calmed by the hands of your Son;

and the sword of Jerusalem will be blunted,

and will have no desire at all to kill.”

“The scribes of the priests of Jerusalem

pour out blood and pay no heed.

They will stir up murderous strife

against me and against the Child. O Magi, be silent!”

“The scribes and the priests will not be able

to harm your Son in their envy;

for their priesthood will be dissolved by him,

and their festivals brought to nothing.”

“A Watcher revealed to me, when I conceived

the Child, that my Son is a King;

that his diadem is from on high and is not dissolved,

he told me, just as you do.”

“The Watcher, then, of whom you have spoken

is the one who came as a star,

and was shown to us, and brought us the good news

that he is great and glorious above the stars.”

“That angel told me

in his good news, when he appeared to me,

that his kingdom will have no end,

and that the mystery is kept and will not be revealed.”

“The Star also told us again

that your Son is the one who will keep the diadem.

Its appearance was somewhat changed:

it was the angel, and it did not make this known to us.”

“When the Watcher showed himself to me,

he called him his Lord before he was conceived,

and announced him to me as the Son of the Highest;

but where his Father is he did not make known to me.”

“Before us he proclaimed, in the form of a star,

that the one who is born is the Lord of the Highest;

and your Son is ruler over the stars of light,

and unless he commands, they do not rise.”

“See, in your presence other mysteries

are revealed, so that you may learn the truth:

how I gave birth to my Son in virginity,

and he is the Son of God. Go, proclaim him!”

“In our presence the Star taught us

that his birth is exalted above the world,

and that your Son is above all beings,

and is the Son of God, just as you say.”

“The world on high and the world below bear witness to him,

all the Watchers and the stars,

that he is the Son of God and Lord.

Carry his fame to your lands!”

“The whole world on high, in one star,

has stirred up Persia, and she has learned the truth,

that your Son is the Son of God,

and all peoples will be subject to him.”

“Carry peace to your lands;

may peace be multiplied within your borders!

As apostles of truth may you be believed

all along the way that you travel.”

“The peace of your Son will carry us

in quiet to our land, as it has led us here;

and when his power has grasped the worlds,

may he visit our land and bless it!”

“May Persia rejoice in your good news!

May Assyria exult in your coming!

And when my Son’s kingdom arises,

may he plant his standard in your country!”

Let the Church sing with rejoicing:

“Glory at the birth of the Highest,

by whom the world above and the world below are lit!”

Blessed be he at whose birth all are made glad!