Above is my drawing for the Feast of Epiphany which celebrates the end of the Magi’s journey to find the child Jesus and their presentation of gold, frankincense, and myrrh—honoring His nature as kingly and divine, and in preparation for His death.

I had trouble beginning this drawing, but T.S. Eliot’s poem helped me in with its cold, grumbling Magi complaining of ”the camel men cursing and running away, wanting their liquor and women.” Uncomfortable, the Magi became real people to me. Once I was inside the story, I could begin the trek across the desert of my mind toward an oasis of imagination found in the Christ Child.

Here in my drawing, the Magi appear to Jesus as uncles. The divine Toddler is more interested in the camel than in gold. One uncle, being wise, understands this, while another hangs back keeping his camel calm. The third informs Mary, who has the support of her cat as she must receive another surprise into her heart.

Today, sadly, is now also the day on which we remember the insurrection at the Capitol one year ago. At first I thought this incongruous—remembering such violence as we celebrate our young Lord, but then I realized how fitting it is that these dates co-exist on our calendar.

The coming of Christ into the world in great humility is in total opposition to the way human beings typically perceive and assert power—especially those who obtain authority by force such as Herod, who seeks to manipulate the Magi to lead him to the young King so he can destroy him.

Unlike human beings who use each other to satisfy their appetites, the Christ Child shows us the humility of the entire Godhead. The Child reveals to us God’s longing for something that is powerful while opposing manipulation—true intimacy—and that with human beings.

Please join me and the Dean of our Cathedral for more epiphanies through art on 1/29 when we read W.H. Auden’s poem, “New Year Letter,” with the insight and guidance of our poetry workshop leader, Evan Craig Reardon. This event has moved to Zoom, please sign up HERE.