Happy Feast of the Epiphany y’all!!!

When we think of the Epiphany, with a capital “E”, in our current age, we remember three kings or magi from the indistinct, yet exotic East. They were being led by the appearance of a star to the place where infant Jesus was residing. They brought appropriate gifts for both a King and a martyr – gold, frankincense and myrrh. Yet, this is not the tale of a singular epiphany. Rather, there were a number of epiphanies implied here. The magi had an “aha” moment, or epiphany, seeing the star. They had another, more divine “aha” moment finding the infant Jesus with his Mother. They had a dreamy “aha” moment telling them to return home from their pilgrimage to see God’s Son by a different route. And we have an “aha” moment in remembering this wonderous and mysterious occasion.

And we might have an “a ha” moment when we come to think of the meaning of all of this revelation being gifted to us through God’s Word! And honestly, while we currently remember the magi on this feast, in the past, the Epiphany was connected with Jesus’ Baptism. In the past, the Epiphany was connected with Jesus’ first miracle at a wedding in Cana, when He turned water into wine. These are all moments of both epiphany and theophany (when God reveals himself). Considering epiphany and theophany in both the broadest sense and the most personally intimate sense, whenever we’ve had an “aha” moment around our understanding of God- Father, Son and Spirit- we’re heirs of all the enlightenment that this feast imparts. So join me in celebrating God’s manifestation to us so we too can join in adoration, bearing the gifts of our hearts, minds and lives to the Savior of the world.

Fr. Reynold