Official Newspaper of Eddy County since 1883
Official Newspaper of Eddy County since 1883
The season of Epiphany is a significant part of the Christian liturgical year, marking the period that follows the season (12 days) of Christmas and leads up to Lent, a time of deep reflection and prayer. Epiphany is a time when we concentrate on the idea of revelation, a season where we reflect on the ways Christ has made Himself known to the world and to us. This season begins on January 6th with the feast of the Epiphany and continues through the Sunday before Ash Wednesday.
Epiphany comes from the Greek word epiphaneia, meaning “appearance” or “manifestation.” It highlights the revelation of Jesus Christ as the Son of God and the Savior of the world.
Traditionally, this season reflects on the story of the Magi, or Wise Men, who followed the star to find the newborn Jesus (Matthew 2:1-12). Their visit to the Christ child is the first public recognition that Jesus is indeed the long-awaited Messiah, not just for Israel but for the whole world.
The theme of Epiphany is one of light and revelation. Jesus, the Light of the World, is made known to all people – Gentiles and Jews alike. The Epiphany season helps us reflect on this theme in our own lives and how God has revealed Himself through the person of Jesus to each and every one of us.
We are invited during Epiphany, to consider that it’s not just about historical events but also can be a time of great personal epiphany – recognizing that Christ is revealed to you and me today, every day. We are invited to look around and within, to look back and to look ahead and to see that myriad ways that Christ has, is and will heal and redeem us. It’s a time for personal reflection on how we experience God’s presence in our lives and how His revelation transforms us.
In my own Lutheran theology, Epiphany is an invitation to remember the ordinary means through which God continues to reveal Himself to us – through Word and Sacrament. While the Magi followed a physical star; today God makes His presence known through the preached Word, the reading of Scripture, Baptism and the Lord's Supper. These “means of grace” are not only ways to receive God's gifts but also opportunities to really experience the light of Christ in our lives.
The Epiphany season also calls us to reflect on how we, as the Body of Christ, are sent out into the world to be bearers of that light. Just as the Magi shared their gifts with Jesus, we are called to share the light of Christ with others through our actions, words and lives. Epiphany reminds us that the revelation of Christ is not something we simply observe but something we participate in and share with our broken world that God so loves.
As our days get longer and we experience more and more daylight, may you experience the light of Christ growing in you and through you during this season of Epiphany.
