THE EPIPHANY

By Edward O'Shaughnessy

This is when the three wise kings came to give gifts to the Son of God. They came bringing with them gold, frankincense and myrrh. While following the big star they stopped at Jerusalem at Herod's palace. He was ruling this land at the time. The wise men asked Herod where the king was to be born. The old priests looked at the prophesies and told the wise men that the baby Jesus was to be born in Bethlehem of Judea and laid in a manger. Herod wishing to get rid of Jesus told the wise men that they were to come back and tell Herod where exactly Jesus was to be found. The wise men promised this. When they found Jesus they paid Him homage and gave Him the gifts. Before they left they were warned in a dream not to go back to Herod, so getting up they went to their lands by a different but longer route. When king Herod found out he was really furious and determined to get rid of Jesus. He sent his soldiers to kill all the babies that were under two years of age. But an angel had warned Joseph in a dream and taking up Mary and the baby Jesus they fled into Egypt. Six months later Joseph was told in another dream that Herod was dead and that it was safe to go back. They went to live in a town called Nazareth and Jesus at twelve years old helped Joseph in the wood shop. Soon Jesus would die on the cross for our sins.

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