Epiphany - Three Kings Day

Today is January 6th, Christmas is now past and Christians turn to a new season, the feast of the Epiphany. It won't end until just before Lent. Some of us know that this season is concerned with the three Magi, but there is more to it than that. The central theme is the showing forth of Christ to the world, when His presence was revealed to the three Magi, the Messiah was thereby shown to the Gentiles for the first time. But there are at least two other events associated with Epiphany. They are the Baptism of Christ (Luke 3:21), and the Wedding at Cana, when Christ first turned water into wine (John 2: 1-10). These events are ones that celebrate the manifestation of Christ to the world and His power to perform miracles.

For me, the meaning of the annual repetition of Epiphany is a participation in the historical events in the life of Jesus. Epiphany has a great spiritual significance far beyond just the dry facts of the matter, because in the Christian faith everything is present, here and now. Our Lord Jesus Christ is with us here and now, our inseparable Companion and Comforter. The historical event is just a motive and remembrance, because the Person of Christ is ever present, and His Grace is not just some historical memory. In this season, He was shown to the Magi, shown as a miracle worker at Cana, and at His Baptism. I am pretty sure that the Baptism of Christ is the the only united appearance of the Father and the Holy Spirit along with Jesus, quite an event in and of itself!

I like to think of this season as one of the Witness of the Son of God, when His Gift became evident to the entire world, and even to a sinner like me.

How can we respond to this time?

We can:
Remember Christ's baptism and our own, Remember the ways in which Christ was revealed to humankind, and most of all think about ways that we are called to bring Christ and to model Christ to the world.

O God, Who by the leading of a star manifested Your only Son to the Peoples of the earth: Lead us, Who know You now by faith, to Your presence, where we may see Your glory face to face; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.

Today is January 6th, Christmas is now past and Christians turn to a new season, the feast of the Epiphany. It won't end until just before Lent. Some of us know that this season is concerned with the three Magi, but there is more to it than that. The central theme is the showing forth of Christ to the world, when His presence was revealed to the three Magi, the Messiah was thereby shown to the Gentiles for the first time. But there are at least two other events associated with Epiphany. They are the Baptism of Christ (Luke 3:21), and the Wedding at Cana, when Christ first turned water into wine (John 2: 1-10). These events are ones that celebrate the manifestation of Christ to the world and His power to perform miracles.

For me, the meaning of the annual repetition of Epiphany is a participation in the historical events in the life of Jesus. Epiphany has a great spiritual significance far beyond just the dry facts of the matter, because in the Christian faith everything is present, here and now. Our Lord Jesus Christ is with us here and now, our inseparable Companion and Comforter. The historical event is just a motive and remembrance, because the Person of Christ is ever present, and His Grace is not just some historical memory. In this season, He was shown to the Magi, shown as a miracle worker at Cana, and at His Baptism. I am pretty sure that the Baptism of Christ is the the only united appearance of the Father and the Holy Spirit along with Jesus, quite an event in and of itself!

I like to think of this season as one of the Witness of the Son of God, when His Gift became evident to the entire world, and even to a sinner like me.

How can we respond to this time?

We can:
Remember Christ's baptism and our own, Remember the ways in which Christ was revealed to humankind, and most of all think about ways that we are called to bring Christ and to model Christ to the world.

O God, Who by the leading of a star manifested Your only Son to the Peoples of the earth: Lead us, Who know You now by faith, to Your presence, where we may see Your glory face to face; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.

Comments

[Ched]

Interesting thoughts.

[Brother Tadhg]

Hi, thanks for sharing that - I really like epiphany. Have you read the book, 'Ancient-Future Time: Forming Spirituality Through The Christian Year' by Robert E Webber? It's a great read, and covers the 'deeper' meanings of not only Epiphany, but Advent, Christmas, Lent, Easter, Ascension Day etc and how to use them for personal devotions etc. Yours, Brother Tadhg