Epiphany (January 6) is the time when we remember that God's light is revealed to all people. Epiphany is a Greek term that means "manifestation" or "appearance." God's love for all the world is revealed or manifested in Christ Jesus. It is only in Matthew's Gospel (2:1-12) that we learn of the visit of the wise men from the east who followed a star in search of "the child born to be king of the Jews."

In most Latin cultures, Epiphany is a time of celebrating and gift giving known as Día de los Reyes or Three Kings Day. Much tradition surrounds the holiday. Friends and family gather to sing and pray and then enjoy a traditional feast that includes foods such as roasted pig, arroz con gandules (rice with pigeon peas), pasteles (mashed plantain stuffed with beef, pork, raisins, onions, and olives and wrapped in plantain leaves), morcillas (blood sausages), alcapurrias (banana croquettes), and Rosca de Reyes (Three Kings Cake). On the eve of Epiphany, children prepare for the arrival of the kings by filling shoeboxes with straw or grass cuttings and placing them under their beds. The next morning, the children awaken to find their shoeboxes filled with "gifts from the kings." The grass or straw has been "eaten" by the camels, and the kings have left gifts for the children just as they did when they found the baby Jesus and worshiped him.

LORD God of Israel, we praise you. We will always praise your glorious name. Let your glory be seen everywhere on earth. Amen and amen. (Psalm 72:18a, 19, CEV)