Thursday, December 30, 2021

Epiphany

 

On Sunday, January 2, we will conclude our sermon series for Advent/Christmas, Making Room... The theme for that Sunday is Making Room for the World and is built around the traditional text for the Sunday closest to Epiphany, the arrival of the magi in Bethlehem. Even though we will celebrate Epiphany on this Sunday, the actual date of Epiphany is twelve days after Christmas, January 6.

The date celebrates both the visit of the magi to Jesus shortly after his birth and Jesus' baptism by John the Baptist. The word "epiphany" comes from Greek and means "manifestation". It symbolizes the revelation of God in his Son Jesus Christ to the world beyond Israel. In the West, Christians began celebrating Epiphany in the 4th century. Up until the 19th century, it was more important than Christmas Day.

In other parts of the world Epiphany is still an important day in the church calendar, observed with a special worship service in which the lights are turned off, candles are lit, John 1 is read, and Christ is invited into the lives of those who have gathered. There are many Epiphany traditions that are observed by families in their homes, as well. Often families do what is described above, except they go from room to room in the house, inviting Christ to fill every space in the home. Chalking of the doors of the home is also a common tradition. Families take chalk of any color and write on or above their doors a formula:

first 2 digits of year + C + M + B + last 2 digits of year

(so for this year: 20 + C + M + B + 22)

The letters have two meanings. First, they represent the initials of the traditional names given to the magi - Caspar, Malchior, and Balthazar. Second, they abbreviate the Latin phrase, Christus mansionem, benedicat: "May Christ bless this house." The "+" signs represent the cross. Taken together, this inscription is a request for Christ to bless the homes so marked and that he stay with those who dwell there throughout the year.

Other Epiphany traditions include: dining on roast lamb; baking Rosca de Reyes (Three Kings Bread) and hiding a small statue of baby Jesus inside (whoever finds it throws a party on Feb 2, Candlemas Day, the celebration of Jesus being presented in the Temple); children leaving their shoes out to be filled with gifts; swimming in the ice cold waters of the local river or lake; and wassailing, going from house to house and singing carols while drinking wassail (warmed ale, wine or cider, blended with spices).

In many liturgical traditions, Epiphany is a season, starting on January 6 and continuing until Ash Wednesday, when the 40 days of Lent begin. Though not as popular in the United States, and especially in the Protestant tradition, Epiphany gives Christians the opportunity after the celebration of Christmas to ask, "So now what?"

In Advent we turn inward and reflect on how we can make room in our hearts and lives for Jesus' coming. At Christmas we celebrate the light of Christ coming into the world. And in Epiphany we are sent out with the light of the beauty of the glory of Jesus in our hearts and on our faces to announce the Good News. Epiphany is where "O Come Let Us Adore Him" becomes "Go Tell It on the Mountain". The light has shone in the darkness and the darkness did not overcome it. A new day has come.

Epiphany reminds us that carrying the light of Christ into the world is not for the faint of heart. We are sent out into a dark and weary world. Shining the light of Christ into the world is an act of courage and defiance. Holding up a light in a dark place is a dangerous thing to do - we risk exposure, we can become a target for those powers that thrive in the dark.

Yet we also draw to us all of those who need to feel the hope and warmth the light of Christ brings. As the Apostle Paul wrote: It is the God who said, "Let light shine out of the darkness" who has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.

God's call to us in Epiphany is to hold up a candle, to radiate the light of Christ in our lives, in our relationships, and as a church. We are being invited to make that move from coming and adoring to going and telling. Both are necessary. To emphasize one over the other is to distort the Gospel.

So in this new year I invite you to think about how we might radiate the light of Christ, as a congregation and in our individual lives. I look forward to hearing your ideas!

Grace and peace...

PT