Today is the Feast of the Epiphany. The word “epiphany” comes from the Greek “επιφανως” which means “manifestation” or “showing.” On this feast day, we celebrate Jesus Christ, Emmanuel (God with us), being made known to all people. The readings for today’s Eucharist recall how the travelers from the east came to pay homage to Jesus:
In the time of King Herod, after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea, wise men from the East came to Jerusalem, asking, ‘Where is the child who has been born king of the Jews? For we observed his star at its rising, and have come to pay him homage.’ When King Herod heard this, he was frightened, and all Jerusalem with him; and calling together all the chief priests and scribes of the people, he inquired of them where the Messiah was to be born. They told him, ‘In Bethlehem of Judea; for so it has been written by the prophet: “And you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, are by no means least among the rulers of Judah; for from you shall come a ruler who is to shepherd* my people Israel.” ’
Then Herod secretly called for the wise men and learned from them the exact time when the star had appeared. Then he sent them to Bethlehem, saying, ‘Go and search diligently for the child; and when you have found him, bring me word so that I may also go and pay him homage.’ When they had heard the king, they set out; and there, ahead of them, went the star that they had seen at its rising, until it stopped over the place where the child was. When they saw that the star had stopped, they were overwhelmed with joy. On entering the house, they saw the child with Mary his mother; and they knelt down and paid him homage. Then, opening their treasure-chests, they offered him gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh. And having been warned in a dream not to return to Herod, they left for their own country by another road. (Mt. 2: 1-12)
We often refer to the three men who came to see Jesus as “the wise men”; however, the Greek word, μαγοι, means sorcerer, magician or wizard. The Rev. Tom Bain and I were talking about this a few Sundays ago, and he mentioned that he had heard a sermon preached some years ago on this topic. The preacher said that the sorcerers were practitioners of the black arts of magic, and that their gifts, gold, frankincense and myrrh were used in their magic. By making their gift of these things to the child Jesus, they were submitting to the Son of God and acknowledging that there was indeed a greater power than their own.
This made me stop and think. Do we in our lives submit to Jesus the Christ, the Word made flesh? Do we acknowledge that the power of Christ is superior to our own perceived power? It is only when we submit to Jesus that he will become manifest in our lives. So on this Feast of the Epiphany, submit to Jesus, and in emptying ourselves, Christ will fill the void.
Let us pray: O God, who by the leading of a star manifested your only Son to the Peoples of the earth: Lead us, who know you now by faith, to your presence, where we may see your glory face to face; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.
CALENDAR REMINDERS
Thank you to everyone who participated in our Annual Parish Meeting. Jillian Bain and Michelle Allen were elected to the Bishop’s Committee, and Tammie Taylor was voted to be our delegate to the 165th Diocesan Council.
We do not have anyone who has signed up to bring the items for breakfast next Sunday. If you are able to, please do.
Thursday, 16 January, the Seaside Seniors will have their monthly lunch at Sutton Hall at St. Augustine’s.
Please remember everyone on our Prayer List, especially Karen.
Your servant in Christ,
Fr. Chester J. Makowski+
St. Augustine of Hippo Episcopal Church
Galveston, Texas 77550
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