The Epiphany
is one of the seven principal Feasts of the Church Calendar, a celebration that
has been found as early as the second century in Egypt. The name "Epiphany" is
derived from a Greek word meaning "manifestation" or "appearing." Some Prayer
Books interpret the word with an alternative title "The Manifestation of Christ
to the Gentiles" which is a reference to the story of the Wise Men.
It is fair to
ask whether the visit of the Wise Men was an actual historical event. Careful
biblical studies have shown us that all of the Christmas and Epiphany passages
contain wondrous metaphors, embellishments, and meanings beyond the range of
any human or camera lens. Within all the words of the Christmas and Epiphany
texts, whether statements referring to photographable incidents or accounts
fabled by poetic imaginations, is this central Christian discernment,
that at an actual time and tangible place of the Creator's own choosing, God's
intention for humanity (that is, God's "Word"), embodied in Jesus the Christ,
was born, and, further, that this Word is for all humanity, Jew and Gentile
alike. Thus, it was an historical happening that God's Word was made flesh and
dwelt among us, full of grace and truth. The story of the wise men
underscores that this Good News is not for just the Jewish community into which
Jesus was born; instead the Wisdom of the Gospel is offered to all
humanity. It is now our shared ministry to manifest the Light of God's love
to one another and to those beyond this fellowship.
You and I
affirm that all people everywhere are invited to this community. In that sense
the Church is inclusive. All are welcome to explore and to learn,
when prepared - to be baptized, and then to participate faithfully - with heart
and mind - in the life of Christ's fellowship, the Church. Gender, age, race,
sexual orientation, social and economic status, formal education, marital
status, nationality, occupation, and physical appearance have nothing to do
with anyone's eligibility to receive the Word of God and to live fully as a
journeying Christian, a person-in-the-making. In doing so, we participate in
the slow evolution of a world of genuine peace.
The entire
Season of Epiphany - this year, a period of 5 ½ weeks - encourages you
and me to manifest an awakened, joyous, faith in God's Word; we are urged to
walk the pathway of love and justice that he lived and taught. The only way
that those with other allegiances will begin to be convinced that we have
something valuable, a way of life that they may find appealing and credible, is
if we shine with the radiance of God's Word, nurtured and illumined in this
very place. Without such confident and joy-filled lives showing forth, no
amount of good works in the community will have any persuasive power. A soup
kitchen staffed by quarreling, depressed sour pusses may provide useful
calories, but incomplete nourishment.
Yet, we must
make allowance for those already among us whose lives are troubled, people who
are dealing with sadness and disappointment. It would be insensitive to ask
them to just put on a happy face; this would be like false advertising! That
leaves all the more responsibility with those who are able to radiate a bright
and contagious Light. Let us not neglect to help rekindle the Light with those
already among us in their own period of darkness and to serve also as a
trustworthy beacon to others.
The wisdom of
the wise men is simply this: although they already possessed the best wisdom of
the non-Jewish world, they continued to seek understanding; they were willing
to journey in faith to personally discover what the Creator was doing; they did
not hesitate to ask for help along the way, and finally, they were wise enough
to accept what they found - even though it was plainly dressed. And there they
presented their own treasures to God's Word made flesh. Simple really - but
wisdom need not be complex. Simple - but when used - as the wise men used it,
wisdom leads us to the love of God. May God bless you and me with this kind of
wisdom that illuminates human life! Amen!