The word epiphany comes from the Greek, meaning: to “appear” or to be “revealed”. In some cultures the feast of the Epiphany of the Lord is referred to as “Little Christmas” or “the Feast of the Three Kings,” and is the day of exchanging gifts with friends and loved ones.
Regardless of what we call it, it is a day on which we tell the story of the arrival of the magi, or the three kings, who have come from afar to see the newborn king and to offer gifts.
Epiphany is a time of celebrating the acknowledgement of “a new beginning,” a time to celebrate the Reign of God bursting forth in the midst of creation -- bursting forth even in the midst of the chaos and suffering of our times!
For sure we dwell for a while on the visit of the magi and the wonder of their journey, led by only a star that shown brightly in the deepest of the night sky. It is a time of wonder and awe…a time to allow ourselves to enter into the story and reflect on our own journey…our spiritual journey. For the magi the signs were in the heavens: a star that led them to Bethlehem, to a humble little stable where our God took on human flesh and came among us as one of us.
Perhaps the magi’s real wisdom was that they knew that they didn’t know everything. They valued learning, they looked for signs, and they paid attention to their dreams…they expected that God would talk to them!
They believed that they encountered God in their daily lives. Ultimately the story of the magi is a story of encounter, an encounter of the greatest kind…an encounter with God!
And so the Feast of the Epiphany is a time to ask ourselves, am I open to “following a star,” am I open to paying attention to the signs of God’s presence in my daily life?
Even in the midst of all the political and social chaos, how do I make time to listen for God’s words spoken to me in my life? Where and when do I most often encounter God in the ordinary routine of my daily life?
The magi came bearing gifts…what gift of self or of my life might I offer to God, and to my sisters and brothers, especially those most in need?
I pray you all a most happy, healthy and blessed New Year. One filled with sacred encounters!
Christmas blessings,
Fr. Tim
Regardless of what we call it, it is a day on which we tell the story of the arrival of the magi, or the three kings, who have come from afar to see the newborn king and to offer gifts.
Epiphany is a time of celebrating the acknowledgement of “a new beginning,” a time to celebrate the Reign of God bursting forth in the midst of creation -- bursting forth even in the midst of the chaos and suffering of our times!
For sure we dwell for a while on the visit of the magi and the wonder of their journey, led by only a star that shown brightly in the deepest of the night sky. It is a time of wonder and awe…a time to allow ourselves to enter into the story and reflect on our own journey…our spiritual journey. For the magi the signs were in the heavens: a star that led them to Bethlehem, to a humble little stable where our God took on human flesh and came among us as one of us.
Perhaps the magi’s real wisdom was that they knew that they didn’t know everything. They valued learning, they looked for signs, and they paid attention to their dreams…they expected that God would talk to them!
They believed that they encountered God in their daily lives. Ultimately the story of the magi is a story of encounter, an encounter of the greatest kind…an encounter with God!
And so the Feast of the Epiphany is a time to ask ourselves, am I open to “following a star,” am I open to paying attention to the signs of God’s presence in my daily life?
Even in the midst of all the political and social chaos, how do I make time to listen for God’s words spoken to me in my life? Where and when do I most often encounter God in the ordinary routine of my daily life?
The magi came bearing gifts…what gift of self or of my life might I offer to God, and to my sisters and brothers, especially those most in need?
I pray you all a most happy, healthy and blessed New Year. One filled with sacred encounters!
Christmas blessings,
Fr. Tim
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