Church Calendar: Epiphany

Tears filled my eyes as I read about the historical & spiritual significance of Epiphany.

He has come!! And with Him, salvation for ALL!

“Epiphany comes from the Latin word epiphaneia, meaning “manifestation” -that is, to make known something that was previously hidden.” -D.H

God’s people had been listening, looking, waiting for the promised Messiah since those first whispers of redemption at the broken dawn of time. But many of them missed His humble, scandalous arrival. He slipped right through the cracks.

Brand new celestial bodies don’t just appear out of thin air.

Until they do.

Until God breathes them into existence to guide a weary world to the fullness of all things.

Jesus.

It was these foreign magi, gazing heavenward at this sudden star, compelled by curiosity and a deep knowing, who first stepped into the new dawn of salvation for all who believe.

The plan was always Jesus.

The fullness of all things was always Jesus.

The way, the truth, the life was always Jesus.

And now, both the scorned and the elite are invited to behold, believe.

I find it beautiful that the heavenly host of angels led nearby shepherds to the birth of Christ. Shepherds were looked down upon in those days. Poor, lowly, a means to an end.

They were the first to witness God incarnate.

And then the magi, a few years later, were welcomed to worship!

How could a baby just obliterate deep-seated cultural hierarchies?!

Because He was God.

Emmanuel.

God with us. God for us.

Epiphany is the conclusion to the Cycle of Light in the church and marks major revelations in the life of Christ:

* The revelation of Jesus birth to the shepherds.

* The revelation of the gospel to the Gentiles, represented by the journey of the magi.

* The consecration of Jesus before the righteous elders of Israel.

* The revelation of Jesus as the Son of God at his baptism.

* The revelation of Jesus’s power at the wedding at Cana.

* The revelation of the transfiguration.

As I move thru the church calendar, following the life of Jesus, my heart is wide open to revel in all the glorious mysteries of God made manifest in Christ! There is so much to remember, behold, believe!