Today we celebrate the day when the 3 kings arrived to witness and worship the baby Jesus. The church offered blessed chalk and a prayer to take and bless our homes. I had heard of the tradition, but had never done it. I went home, read the prayer and marked the lintels of my front door and garage door. Then I went to my son’s house and we did the same to his entrance. He is having another back surgery tomorrow, because unfortunately he is still in pain even after his last surgery 8 weeks ago. I thought they could use as much blessing as possible. Sometimes I get stuck in a pattern of the same prayers and it can become too habitual. The caution then is that I’m not actually thinking about what I’m doing or saying. It was fun and meaningful to participate in a new prayer and to share it with my son. Here’s the basic information about this tradition:

The inscription written over the door changes every year. For this year, we wrote:

“20 + C + M + B + 25.”

The Letters C, M, and B have two meanings. They are the initials of the traditional names of the three magi: Caspar, Melchior, and Balthazar. They are also the first letters of the Latin words Christus mansionem benedicat, “May Christ bless the house.” The + signs represent the cross. As we marked the door, we said a prayer:

The three Wise Men, Caspar, Melchior, and Balthazar followed the star of God’s Son who became human two thousand and twenty-five years ago. May Christ bless our home and remain with us throughout the new year. Amen.
Visit, O blessed Lord, this home with the gladness of your presence. Bless all who live or visit here with the gift of your love; and grant that we may manifest your love to each other and to all whose lives we touch. May we grow in grace and in the knowledge and love of you; guide, comfort, and strengthen us in peace, O Jesus Christ, now and for ever. Amen.

I Found God today in a new and meaningful blessing.