Memories of Christmas all too quickly fade into the background, and by the Feast of the Epiphany, most people are ready to tidy up their houses, remove the jaded tree and get back to normal.
Epiphany means ‘manifestation’, or 'showing forth'. In Western Europe, it is the day when we remember the story of the Wise Men - the first Gentile visitors to come to visit our Lord, and who bowed down before him in worship. Through them, we remember that Jesus has come into the world to be made known to all people, everywhere. In the eastern, Orthodox Church, this 'showing forth' is made even more explicit, by moving the story forwards to the baptism of Jesus - the event through which God makes known precisely who Jesus is, by declaring it aloud. 'This is my Son...'
Epiphany is the season that makes explicit that which is implicit in the Christmas story. God, who has been born a human baby and lives amongst us, has come to live on earth in order to show us His true nature. Further, He calls us to faith and obedience. This is a good season to think about Christian mission – how we can make God known in the world today. During the weeks of Epiphany, we read the stories which point us towards God's activity in the world, and in the hearts of His people: the call of the first disciples; Jesus first miracle at Cana – turning water into wine; the proclamation of the Kingdom of God; and Jesus' own declaration of his purpose, in his visit to the synagogue at Nazareth.
Creator of the heavens,
who led the Magi by a star
to worship the Christ-child:
guide and sustain us,
that we may find our journey’s end
in Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
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