The Epiphany

For many years in the English speaking world the feast of Epiphany has been overshadowed by that of Christmas. But for most of the world the Feast of the Epiphany is the bigger event.  The significance of the Epiphany is lost if we see only the Christmas side of the mystery of the Incarnation. After contemplating the staggering fact that God has become a human child which we’ve done at Christmas, we turn to look at this mystery from the opposite angle and realize that this seemingly helpless Child is, in fact, God, the King and Ruler of the universe. The feast of Christ's divinity completes the feast of His humanity. It fulfills all our Advent longing for the King "who is come with great power and majesty." We see that whereas Christmas is the family feast of Christianity, Epiphany is the great "world feast of the Catholic Church."

Many of us remember this feast was celebrated on January the 6th.  Today in the United States and most English speaking countries, the feast is moved to a Sunday between the 2nd and 8th of January.  Why a “moveable” feast?  Because this feast is so important to our faith that our bishops don’t want us miss it and so have attached it to a Sunday.  This feast is so important that some have referred to the Epiphany as “Christmas Major” and refer to December 25th as “Christmas Minor.”  For most of the world the Epiphany is the date that gifts are exchanged, reflecting the Magi bringing gifts to the Christ-child.  It is the twelfth day of Christmas.

Epiphany is a complex feast that originated in the Eastern Church and has various themes woven together:  The Epiphany celebrates the Divine Manifestation of Christ as the Son of God and looks forward to His Second Coming.  

A second important idea is the revelation of Christ to the three kings at Bethlehem is a symbol of His revelation to the whole of the world, Jew and Gentile alike.  The Epiphany presents to us the calling of not merely a chosen few, but all humankind to Christianity.

Closely linked to both these themes of divine manifestation and world kingship is a third idea running through the Epiphany feast: that of light. At Christmas the Light shone forth, but dimly, seen only by a few around the crib: Mary and Joseph and the shepherds. But at Epiphany the Light bursts forth to all nations and the prophecy of Isaiah is fulfilled: "The Gentiles shall walk in your light, and kings in the brightness of your rising."

Epiphany lifts our eyes from the family celebration of Christmas and changes our vantage point to "all the ends of the earth."  Like the three wise men, we are called to have the courage to follow the light of the star we have seen, however difficult the journey.  And like these kings we return to our own places a different way, carrying to all those we meet the light of Christ.