Happy New Year everyone, and may your every desired blessing for 2023 be fulfilled.
The word, epiphany, is derived from the Greek, epiphaneia, and means manifestation. It celebrates the manifestation of Christ to the whole world as represented by the journey of the Magi to Bethlehem (Matt 2 : 1-12).
Wise men and people of good will seek him still. Life is a journey, and the story of the three kings brings Christ into the lives of those who seek him. The popular song, ‘We Three Kings’ brings this experience of the living Christ into the norm of society, into the yearnings of those who seek the Savior. If Christ was born a thousand times over in Bethlehem, but was not born in your heart what difference would it make? Nothing, I’m afraid. Epiphany is the personal experience of Christ in your heart, in the way you live, move, and interact with others.
Epiphany is a reminder that life is a pilgrimage, a special journey in search of Christ who comes for all people, not just people of a certain race, not just people of a certain skin color, but for everyone. This is the good news worth sharing and taking to heart every day, but especially today.
The gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh have special meanings in this story. They tell us who Jesus Christ is!
The gift of gold reminds us that Jesus is our king. But he is not a king of this world. His kingdom is from within, and is a kingdom of truth, justice and love for all of God’s children. His banner consists of the three universal virtues of faith, hope and love. His remedy for the renewal of humankind are the eight beatitudes or blessings which transform the condition of the human heart within.
The gift of frankincense reminds us that Jesus is the Son of God, and hears and answers all our prayers, day and night. Jesus gave us the Lord’s Prayer. This magnificent meditation can be pondered whether you are seated in a chair, lying in bed, or simply walking in the woods.
The healing gift of myrrh reminds us of the suffering Christ who sacrificed himself for us on the cross that we might be saved from the death-dealing destruction of sin. He has removed the ultimate fear from our lives — the fear of death because he rose from the dead. All who follow him experience the new life of the resurrection.
The Epiphany is called “little Christmas” because it is our personal experience of the miracle of Christ’s birth in Bethlehem. It brings the birth of Christ into our lives when we allow his example to take root in our hearts.
Happy Feast Day.
Fr. Hugh Duffy
7 Comments
Joseph Livingston
Wow….need a choir like this in my parish !!
Joe in Scotland .
Ellen Mongan
Dear Father,
Thank you so kindly! You explained the Epiphany, the “Little Christmas,” so well. May we always be like the wise men every seeking to know, love and serve our Savior Jesus Christ! May we live the word in scripture,
“I must decrease He must increase within me !
Ellen Mongan
Tom Walsh
Happy New Year to you too Fr. Hugh and thank you for sharing this Post on the Epiphany. It is very much appreciated. Please God I will work harder this year on Gratitude to God The Father, God The Son and God the Holy Spirit. Amen. Tom
Nancy Tupas
Thank you you for this post! Happy New Year!!
Elsa
Thank you for sharing with us the meaning of Epiphany.
May God in his grace help me to love him more and more.
Patricia
Fr. , your message led me to the dictionary. Epiphany: Enlightening and reaffirming; manifestation, apparition, vision beyond the world, deep understanding,deep sense of fulfillment, enlighten thought, inspiration that seems to be of God, see at the heart of things, from now on it feels resolved, solved, completed.
Variations of a word certainly can help one understand more fully . Thank you.
Hugh Duffy
Thanks for going to the trouble of looking up the various definitions of Epiphany, Patricia. Life is full of little epiphanies if we can see them.