Epiphany Then and Now
     The season of Epiphany always begins on the twelfth day after Christmas, January 6. It begins with Epiphany Day and continues until Transfiguration Sunday which is the Sunday before Ash Wednesday.  Along with Christmas, Easter and Pentecost, it is one of the oldest Christian holy days.  The festival was first celebrated in the Eastern Church (Orthodox) and was adopted in the Western Church by the fourth century.  Epiphany commemorates the first "showing forth" or manifestation of Jesus to the Gentiles, particularly the Magi or Wise Men.  The Epiphany story is meant to explain that Christ was not just for the Jews, but for non-Jews (Gentiles) as well, anywhere in the world.  The eve of Epiphany is called Twelfth Night and relates to the arrival of the Wise Men from the East the birthplace of the Lord of Bethlehem.
     Celebrating the season of Epiphany began for the early church prior to 380 AD. The season was celebrated as a recognition of God’s incarnation into the world. The early church celebrated not only the journey of the Wise Men, but also the involvement of God in the world. An added celebration was the baptism of Jesus Christ. The major aspect, however, is the journey of the Wise Men or Magi to Bethlehem.
     There is much mysticism and mystery surrounding the Magi. Little is really know of them. Scripture doesn’t give much additional information, but there are some assumptions that we can safely make about them.
     They were astrologers and students of the Old Testament. Thus, when the star appeared, they realized that it must be the new King or Messiah.
     They brought gifts to the Christ Child. The gifts were significant. Gold was brought for the king, frankincense for a priest, and myrrh for embalming. One wonders if they knew that Christ the King would also become our priest and way to God and that the embalming perfume would foretell his crucifixion.
     I would invite you to reflect on these Wise Men and understand that with the eyes of faith they embarked on a spiritual journey which took them over countless miles. Along the way they had a visit with a mean, vindictive King Herod. Yet their journey brought them face to face with Jesus the Christ.
     As we travel, let us be like the Magi, and take gifts to Jesus Christ. May our gifts be our daily lives, our actions, our prayers, our thoughts. Let our journey begin!