Far too often, Epiphany is a forgotten day. People begin preparing for Christmas no later than Thanksgiving and certainly are done with it by New Year’s Day. Very few people truly understand, much less celebrate, the Twelve Days of Christmas, which end with the Epiphany.
This year The Feast of the Epiphany occurs on a Friday, January 6, the twelfth night after Christmas. There will be a service at St. David’s that morning at 9 am honoring the arrival of Wise Men at the birthplace of Jesus.
On Sunday, January 8, 2012 we will hear how the Wise Men presented gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh before returning to their own countries to tell everyone what they had seen and heard concerning this child. After the service we will turn off the star over the altar and put the sanctuary back to its normal order.
Why do we celebrate the Feast of the Epiphany? Does it truly have any relevance in the world today? The answer is “Yes, it most certainly does!” When Jesus was born it was a very small, intimate event with Mary, Joseph, perhaps a young serving maid from the inn or even the inn-keeper’s wife who may have taken a moment from her busy duties to check on the young woman. When God made the event known to the shepherds, and in time, to the Wise Men, Herod found out about this extraordinary birth and all Jerusalem was troubled with him. What happens next is why we have the Feast of the Epiphany. The Wise Men left by another way and returning home, spread the Good News of the birth of the Messiah.
The Wise Men and the shepherds became the first evangelists. They told everyone of this wondrous birth. They couldn’t wait to share the news.
We follow in the footsteps of Wise Men and shepherds, serving maids and curious villagers. We are called to tell the world about the wonderful birth and what it means to the world. We have become very cautious in talking about our religion and our spirituality. We are so afraid of offending others that we stuff the wonderful life-changing news down deep inside.
The world needs the Good News of Jesus among us now more than ever. The trail has been blazed and made clear before us. We are called to go forth and make known the news we have heard and seen. This Epiphany, show forth the Good News of the birth of Christ in what you say, how you act, what you truly believe. Others will see the light of the Star of Bethlehem in you and want to follow you on your journey.
May God richly bless and keep you this Epiphany, and always.
With deepest affection,
Fr. David
