Have you ever heard in our culture, “she had an epiphany”? It means someone had an insight or gained a new understanding of something, or perhaps there was some kind of revelation.
In the Church, Epiphany means “manifestation” or “revealing”, particularly of Jesus Christ. The Season of Epiphany lasts from four to nine weeks, depending on the date of Easter, which floats every year. This year we will experience eight Sunday’s of Epiphany.
January 6 is the actual day of Epiphany and it kicks off the beginning of the season, lasting until the Tuesday before Ash Wednesday, also known as Shrove Tuesday.
The gospel stories those eight Sundays will focus on these various manifestations of Jesus. Each event helps us to understand who Jesus is:
Jesus’ birth and the visit of the Magi show us the revealing of Jesus to the Gentiles, or the non-Jewish people.
Jesus’ baptism shows him as God’s beloved Son.
Jesus performs his first miracle at a wedding in Cana, showing his power.
Jesus declares himself to be the Messiah that Isaiah prophesied, setting the captives free, and proclaiming God’s favor.
Jesus’ presentation in the temple as an infant included prophecies spoken over him by Simeon and Anna that Jesus was a light of salvation for the entire world.
Jesus’ calling of his disciples showed his message was for real people who would then share his good news with other real people, and so on.
Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount characterized his teaching of loving God and neighbor.
Lastly, Jesus’ transfiguration, when he began to glow on the mountain in front of his core group and Moses and Elijah, demonstrates that he is truly God in our midst.
My prayer for us as a church is that the Lord will use the Season of Epiphany to enlighten our own hearts and minds as to the true nature and the true mission of our Lord Jesus Christ.