Epiphany

The feast of ‘Epiphany’, an ancient church festival celebrating the visit of the wise men to the Christ child [Matthew 2:1-12], is celebrated by the Christian church on January 06. These days it has little importance in the aftermath of Christmas, because, after all, we have already seen the three kings and their gifts arrive at the manger along with the shepherds in the Christmas pageant. The word epiphany means ‘manifestation’ or ‘revelation’ and celebrates the manifestation of Christ to the gentiles.

Surely then Epiphany should be a big deal in the Church, bigger even than Christmas, Not mixed into the Christmas story. However in my mind, it is Paul, according to his writings, who really was responsible for introducing and selling the church to the gentiles.

All that aside, I was thinking today about the word Epiphany and what epiphanies, ‘manifestations’ or ‘revelations’ I have had in my life. One of them that has profoundly affected my theology, actually occurred as a result of my leading a class that was discussing Epiphany, How cool is that!

We all experience epiphanies or ‘Small things that start us in new ways of thinking.’ [V.S. Naipaul, A Bend in the River]. It is what we do with them them and where we let them take us that makes the difference. I could have ignored that Epiphany I spoke of earlier. Or I could have decided that it was something that I wasn’t qualified to deal with; that I should leave it for those who were more qualified. I might even have decided it was an interesting thought and put it out of my mind. But as V.S.Naipaul said, I found I couldn’t do any of these. It had started me on a new path and I was on that path whether I liked it or not.

Just like with the magi of old, our Epiphanies require courage and trust. We need to allow ourselves to be vulnerable. But what they require of us most of all is that we change, and change in a way that is only known by that new path we find ourselves on. It can be scary. it can be unnerving. But it can also be exciting like the magi’s, unlocking more paths to travel and more gifts to offer.

So take some time this Epiphany season to think about those epiphanies, big and small, that have occurred in your life, where they have taken you, and who you are today because of them.

I’d like to close with this quote from J.K. Rowling that sums it up perfectly:

“There’s nothing better then when something comes and hits you and you think ‘Yes’!”

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