The Feast of Epiphany

Today is the Feast of the Epiphany, and the appointed Gospel reading for the Eucharist today is taken from the Gospel according to Matthew where we read the story of the Epiphany:

 

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).

 

A child, a star, wise men from the east and a paranoid and jealous king.  What does this all mean?  The word “epiphany” comes from the Greek ἐπιφάνεια (epiphaneia) meaning “manifestation, striking appearance”; it is an experience of sudden and striking realization.  In this brief passage, God tells the world that he is coming in the person of Jesus not only to the nation of Israel, but also to the Gentiles.  The Kingdom of God, the Good News, is open to all people and not to a select group.  The men from the east, who do not know the God of Israel, are foreigners, the first Gentiles to see the Light, who recognize what Herod and the Temple priesthood cannot: the newborn Savior. The wealthy, learned, alien Magi of Matthew’s Gospel complement the poor, ignorant, local shepherds of Luke’s Gospel. The Gospels foreshadow the universality of the Church, these Gentiles and Jews worship God Incarnate to show that salvation is offered to all people.  To understand that, to come to terms with that, is a striking realization indeed.

 

Let us pray:  O God, by the leading of a star you 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

 

Annual Parish Meeting will be Sunday, 11 January 2015, after the 9:00 am Eucharist.

 

ESL has begun and continues now on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays from 6 pm to 8 pm in Sutton Hall.

 

Al-Anon in Spanish begins Thursday, 8 January, 6 pm.

 

Please remember everyone on our Prayer List, especially those who are recovering or ill including Stacy, Liz, Pat and Evelyn, and for all of those who are traveling, especially Bob.

 

Your servant in Christ,

 

Fr. Chester J. Makowski+

St. Augustine of Hippo Episcopal Church

Galveston, Texas 77550