On the Twelfth Day of Christmas – An Epiphany

The twelve days of Christmas come to an end on January 6, and the season of [Ordinary Time] begins. But Epiphany not only ends Christmas, it also fulfills it by celebrating the revelation of the Christ to the whole world. The coming of Incarnate God to all people, especially to those of us who are Gentiles, is the bridge from birth into life, the event that makes Easter possible for most of us. The light of the Epiphany illuminates the church’s year as it illuminates the human race from whom the kings came.

– Phyllis A. Tickle

Bridges have often been powerful spiritual symbols. This one, Ponte Vecchio, in Florence, is one teeming with life and commerce – a powerful symbol to St. Catherine of Siena. She understood Jesus to be our Bridge.