Epiphany

[Pastor Joelle]

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. 8Then 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." 9When 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.
Matthew 2:1-12

Epiphany, January 6, the Twelfth Day of Christmas is kind of a lost
holiday. Most people assume the “twelve days of Christmas” actually
starts 12 days BEFORE and ENDS on December 25. No doubt because we
start celebrating Christmas before Halloween, by December 26 we are
SICK of the carols and can’t wait to get the tree and its dead pine
needles all over the floor out of the house.

It didn’t used to be that way. Traces of Epiphany celebrations have
been found as far back as the second century. The ancient church
celebrated Jesus’ birth and his baptism which began his ministry on
this day. Epiphany is actually older than Christmas.

The story of the wisemen is associated with this day, not because it
is the day they arrived, because of course we don’t have any more idea
what day that was then we know the day on which Christ was born. In
the story of the star guiding the magi from so far away, we see how in
Jesus even as a child, God reveals himself to us and all people.
Already God was revealing the universal nature of his salvation. From
the very beginning, God intended that the good news in Christ would be
available to everyone everywhere. The Good News of Epiphany is that
Christ has come for ALL people


Everlasting God, the radiance of all faithful people,
you brought the nations to the brightness of your rising.
Fill the world with your glory,
and show yourself to all the world through him
who is the true light and the bright morning star,
your Son, Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord,
who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,
one God, now and forever. Amen