Illuminating Epiphany

Today in church we celebrate the Feast of the Epiphany. In the nativity story, it marks when the three kings proclaimed Jesus as Kings of the Jews.

On coming to the house, they saw the child with his mother Mary,
and they bowed down and worshiped him.
Then they opened their treasures and presented him with
gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh.
~ Matthew 2: 10-12

Epiphany also is celebrated as the revelation that Jesus is God incarnate.

The Mirriam-Webster on-line dictionary provides this secular definition for “epiphany”:

(1) a usually sudden manifestation or perception of the essential nature or meaning of something (2) : an intuitive grasp of reality through something (as an event) usually simple and striking (3) : an illuminating discovery, realization, or disclosure.

Considering the Feast of the Epiphany in light of this definition, I wonder if the revelation that “Jesus is God incarnate” informs us of the essential nature of Jesus, or the essential nature of God.

Is the significance of Epiphany the fact that Jesus is God?

Or is it the fact that God is Jesus?

I’ve always thought of Epiphany in terms of what it tells us about Jesus, but that is only half of the story. Epiphany also tells us about God–that God loves and cares for us so much that He subjected Himself to life among us as Jesus.

Understanding Epiphany in this light reminds me that God is with us today, living with us, loving us, and caring for us.

Collect for Epiphany:

O God, who wonderfully created, and yet more wonderfully restored, the dignity of human nature: Grant that we may share the divine life of him who humbled himself to share our humanity, your Son Jesus Christ; who lives and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

Epiphany also marks the end of the Christmas season –have you put all of your holiday decorations away?