After Christmas last year, I visited my brother and his family in Alabama, and we had the opportunity to visit the **EWTN Monastery**. It was a beautiful experience, with the monastery adorned in the splendor of the season. As we wandered through the grounds, my nephews noticed something written in chalk above one of the monastery doors: **“20 + C + M + B + 24.”** “Uncle, what does that mean? Is it a secret code?” they asked. I explained that it wasn’t a secret code but a **Catholic tradition for the feast of Epiphany**—a blessing asking Christ to dwell in our homes throughout the year. That brief exchange reminded me how the simplest traditions of our faith, rich in symbolism and meaning, have the power to spark curiosity, reflection, and awe.

This weekend, we celebrate the **Feast of the Epiphany of the Lord**. The word _epiphany_ comes from a Greek word meaning **“manifestation”** or **“revelation.”** This feast celebrates Christ revealing Himself to the world—not just to Israel but to **all nations**, symbolized by the visit of the **Magi from the East**. Epiphany is a feast of light in the midst of winter’s darkness, reminding us that the light of Christ is not meant to be hidden but shared with the world. Across cultures, Epiphany is celebrated with unique traditions. Some exchange gifts in honor of the Magi’s offerings, others bless their homes with chalk inscriptions, and in many places, festive **King Cakes** mark the occasion. At its core, however, the meaning remains the same: Christ has come to reveal Himself as the **Savior of all humanity**.

One of the most beloved **Epiphany traditions** is **“chalking the doors.”** Perhaps you’ve seen it at church or even on the doorway of a friend’s home. The inscription looks like this: **“20 + C + M + B + 24.”** The numbers represent the year, while the letters serve a dual purpose. They are the initials of the traditional names of the **Magi—Caspar, Melchior, and Balthasar**—but they also stand for the Latin phrase _Christus Mansionem Benedicat_, meaning **“May Christ bless this house.”** This tradition invites Christ into our homes and daily lives. You can do it as a family using blessed chalk from church. Simply write the inscription above your front door and pray: _“May all who come to our home this year rejoice to find Christ living among us; and may we seek and serve, in everyone we meet, that same Jesus who is your incarnate Word, now and forever. Amen.”_

The **Gospel of Matthew** recounts the **journey of the Magi**, wise men who followed a star in search of the **newborn King of the Jews**. Their journey mirrors our own spiritual journey—a movement through stages of faith that lead to a deeper encounter with Christ. The Magi, who were foreigners, Gentiles, represent the **universal call to faith**, and they show us how God often uses simple yet profound means—like a star or an unexpected person—to guide us. Despite obstacles, including **Herod’s hostility** and the **indifference of religious leaders**, the Magi persevered with unwavering faith. Their arrival at the house in Bethlehem culminates in an act of **profound worship** as they prostrated themselves before Christ and presented to Him symbolic gifts: **gold**, representing their resources and recognition of Christ’s kingship; **frankincense**, symbolizing worship and prayer; and **myrrh**, signifying sacrifice and surrender. These gifts weren’t mere tokens but profound confessions of faith.

The Magi’s journey also emphasizes two crucial spiritual stages: **cost and conversion**. True faith comes with a cost—it asks us to offer something of ourselves. It’s not enough to admire Christ from a distance; we must bring Him our time, our resources, and our devotion. And faith must also lead to conversion—an ongoing transformation of our hearts and lives. After encountering Jesus, the Magi returned home **“by another route”**, symbolizing their spiritual transformation. They had been changed by their encounter with Christ, and they could not simply return to life as usual.

The Magi’s story invites us to reflect on our own faith: Are we constant in our search for God? Are we willing to make sacrifices in our discipleship? And most importantly, are we allowing our encounter with Christ to **change us**? Pope Francis captures this beautifully: _“The Magi teach us that an encounter with God opens us up to a greater reality, which makes us change our way of life and transform our world.”_ The story of the Epiphany challenges us to resist the temptation to celebrate Christmas and then move on as if nothing happened. Instead, we are called to let the light of Christ ripple outward, transforming our lives, our families, and our communities.

As we step into this **new year**, we might ask ourselves: _How might I be changed by this encounter with Christ?_ Our parish, like the Magi, is also on a journey. This past year, the **National Eucharistic Congress** called us to renew our understanding of **Christ’s presence in the Eucharist**. Like the Magi, we are called to **adore**. But adoration isn’t passive—it demands a response. What do we bring to the Lord? Gold, frankincense, and myrrh might not be within our grasp, but we can offer our time, our talents, and our acts of service.

And true adoration must lead to **conversion**. It’s not merely about quiet contemplation. It must move us outward—to **serve our brothers and sisters**, to love more deeply, and to live differently. Last Epiphany, Pope Francis commented, _“We need to let ourselves walk in friendship with the Lord; we need his love to sustain us and the light of his word to guide us, like a star in the night.”_ At the same time, he emphasized, _“We need to set out on this journey so that our faith will not be reduced to an assemblage of religious devotions or mere outward appearance, but will instead become a fire burning within us, making us passionate seekers of the Lord’s face and witnesses to his Gospel.”_

Perhaps our invitation this year is to grow in **adoration and charity**, recognizing how these two virtues strengthen and sustain one another.

Though the **Twelve Days of Christmas** conclude with Epiphany, the Christmas season itself continues until the **Feast of the Baptism of the Lord**. So, if your Christmas tree is still up and your lights are still glowing—let them shine! But even if the decorations are put away, let us not pack away the **message of Christmas**. Like the Magi, let us **seek Christ, adore Him, and be changed by Him**.

Merry Christmas, Happy New Year, and a blessed celebration of the Epiphany!