A Short Epiphany Homily

Epiphany January 6, 2013

I am going to do something a little different today.  I love top ten lists, top 100 lists.  So today I am going share  with you ten things that you probably didn't know about today. But, first let’s start with  something that you do know.  You probably know that today is  Sunday January 6^th, but...

1.     Did you know that  today January 6^th is one of seven principal feast days in the Episcopal Church.  Bonus points: Anyone know what feast day it is?  Epiphany.    Anyone know the other six? Easter, Christmas, Pentecost, Ascension Day, Trinity Sunday, All Saints are the others.    

 

2.      The word Epiphany comes from a Greek word which means “manifestation” or “appearing.” 

3.      The feast of  the Epiphany is the celebration of  Christ manifestation to the world--- not only  His manifestation, his appearing  to the Jewish people, but also his manifestation, his coming to entire world to Jews and non-Jews.  This feast day helps us to recognize the universality of Jesus mission to all the peoples of the earth. 

4.     The story our church most relates to the Epiphany is the coming of the magi, but some Eastern Churches recognize Jesus baptism as the event that recognizes Christ’s manifestation to the world.   (That comes next week for us.)

5.     The magi are often thought of as kings.  But the Greek word  that Matthew uses, “magoi”  means, sorcerers, magician.  The story might feel a little different if it was entitled “the three sorcerers."

6.     The magi may have been astronomers or astrologers, notice how they followed the stars-   in the Gospel they tell King Herod how they noticed a new star rising in the east.

7.     The Magi were Gentile, non Jew- notice  Matthew says they came from the East.  Remember again  the theme of Epiphany Christ’s Manifestation to the  entire world.

8.     We don’t know how many magi there were-  we  often assume three because of the three gifts- Gold, Frankincense and Myrrh. Could have been more, but  might have only been two?

9.     The magi didn’t go to the manger, but they arrived at a house- note verse 11 of the Gospel  “Upon entering the house, they knelt and paid him homage.

10.   Because they came to a house --we can also surmise that this event was probably was well after Jesus’ birth.  Jesus may, in fact,  have been a toddler.  Some people do not place the magi in their  nativity scenes  until today- recognizing that the magi  arrived some time after Jesus birth. 

Upon their arrival at Jesus house, Matthew notes that the Magi are filled with joy,  On this day of Epiphany, may our lives be filled with the joy that the magi found in Jesus  Christ.   May the joy that we find in Christ propel us to open the treasure chests of our lives to Christ and to His world. 

AMEN