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           This Sunday we’ll be celebrating the Feast of the Epiphany. What is that? you might ask. Does it involve food and drink?? It could, as long as you didn’t make New Year’s resolutions about food and drink. “Epiphany” celebrates the arrival of the Wise Men with their gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh for the baby Jesus. It is technically Jan. 6 and is the 12th day of Christmas (depending on how you count them). I personally would prefer gold and incense over 12 drummers drumming, wouldn’t you? (Maybe not Daniel or Doug…).

 

       “Epiphany” is a funny churchy word that means, “manifestation,” “revelation,” “realization,” that “a-ha! moment” when the “lightbulb goes off in your head.” Specifically, it symbolizes when Jesus the Christ was revealed to the “nations,” the Gentiles. Jesus was Jewish, and the Jewish scriptures looked forward to the arrival of their Messiah, the “coming of the Lord.” Well, what about everyone else on the planet? That’s where the Wise Men come in—they represent the “everyone else.”

 

       God’s Spirit works in mysterious ways in all kinds of cultures, histories, peoples, shining with all kinds of “light.” When the Spirit touches YOU often a “lightbulb” goes off. Something might be known or seen more clearly, more “spiritually.” It also seems to me that we struggle to find language for that and struggle to have or create these experiences. I’ve heard lots of stories over the years of people describing this but not imagining it could be God. The beautiful thing about scripture and our faith is that “faith” isn’t dependent on an “epiphany.” Just because (you think) you haven’t had one, doesn't mean your faith is “less than.” The Spirit is present with us—especially when!—we struggle and need help. Is that an “epiphany” when you hear that? It should be. Because that was God revealed in a lowly manger and a brutal cross. But thank God for the gift of those “epiphanies” that shine like a star leading us to Christ.

 

Peace,

Pr. Christian