Epiphany

Following the Christmas season is Epiphany. For all the hoopla and running around we do, Christmas is actually the shortest holiday with one Sunday, sometimes two, following the Nativity season. Makes one think about the importance we place on this holiday.

The Epiphany season varies from one to six weeks, depending upon the date of Easter. The later Easter is, the longer the Epiphany season. The earlier Easter is, the shorter the Epiphany season. The other season affected is the season of Pentecost, which comprises roughly half the Church Year.

Epiphany is a Greek word that means "To make manifest." In this season, we observe how Jesus manifest himself as Savior of the world and as the true Son of God.

Epiphany day, January 6, commemorates the visit of the Wise men from the east. Traditionally, we think of three kings; Scripture, however, never comments on what rank these men had. Nor does it tell us how many were involved in the trek or where they actually came from. It simply acknowledges that wise men from the east came to see Jesus. The fact that they knew a special star denoted a special king has led commentators to surmise these wise men were expatriate Jews and not Gentiles. But the church has traditionally observed this day as Jesus manifest as the Savior of the world-Jew and Gentile.

The color for the Epiphany season is green except for the Day itself, the first Sunday of Epiphany (which focuses on Jesus' baptism), and the last Sunday of Epiphany (which looks at the Transfiguration). These three days are white, denoting purity as well as the color of high holy days. Green denotes new life in Christ.

Jesus' baptism and his transfiguration have one thing in common-God the Father affirming that Jesus is His Son, thus true God. They also are the bookends of Jesus' ministry, the baptism at the beginning and the transfiguration at the end, just before the Holy Week of Jesus' Passion.

Readings during this festival look at the miracles of Jesus. These miracles manifest Jesus as true God ("he does miracles which only God can do!"). Later, in Pentecost, the focus will be on Jesus' parables, which are used to show how a Christian ought to model his or her life and how Jesus alone was able to be perfect in our place.

What does Epiphany mean to us? It tells us that "God so loved the world that He sent his only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish, but have eternal life." Jews and Gentiles alike are recipients of God's redemptive work.

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