Pastor Lou

Epiphany: God Made Manifest

1 In the time of King Herod, after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea, magi from the east came to Jerusalem, 2 asking, “Where is the child who has been born king of the Jews? For we observed his star in the east and have come to pay him homage.” Matthew 2:1-2

Epiphany is celebrated yearly in many Christian churches on January 6. The word “epiphany” means “manifestation” or “showing forth.” The celebration remembers how the Magi (wisemen) sought and worshipped the baby Jesus, bearing him gifts. They followed a heavenly light of a star to find the “Light of the World.” The magi were not Jews, but Gentiles. Their journey is a manifestation that this Savior Jesus was not only for the Jews, but for all people. We, who might not be Jewish by lineage, share with these magi as Gentiles who honor Jesus as our Savior.

Please note …

Today the wise do not always come from the east;

They might, but they often are found nearer than we realize.

Nor do the wise always follow stars,

but they often traverse self-imposed borders and socially accepted boundaries.

Yet they often pay attention to what is happening in God’s creation and in the rest of the world.

Epiphany means revelation. Often revelation is seeing things anew that have been in plain sight. Revelation frequently is noticing with new insight and perception.

As the Baby Jesus was not recognized by all people at his birth,

Even now those who are to be great among us might be hidden from us.

We might not now know their names nor time nor place.

As the magi found Jesus in the little town of Bethlehem,

God every so often discloses surprises in the small out of the way places,

even in the hovels of life.

As King Herod was ignorant and threaten by the Baby Jesus,

when God comes, the stars know, the wise may recognize,

but the Herods of our age may not see. Even their scholars might be ignorant.

And when the Herods do realize the hand of God, they might lash out.

So, when God is manifest must we rely on strangers to tell us,

and would we dare to listen to them? Take care, usually every epiphany that God gives comes to us as a surprise.

O God of the Epiphany, give us eyes to see, a mind to perceive, and a will to follow.

Blessed New Year to you,

Pastor Lou