Happy Epiphany everyone!
Even if you’ve never celebrated epiphany, you’ve probably had one at some time or another. They might even be contagious…
Here’s the dictionary-style definition:
“Epiphany – Greek, “to manifest,” or “to show.” An epiphany is the sudden realization or comprehension of the (larger) essence or meaning of something. The term is used in either a philosophical or literal sense to signify that the claimant has "found the last piece of the puzzle and now sees the whole picture," or has new information or experience, often insignificant by itself, that illuminates a deeper or foundational frame of reference.”
Here’s my definition: You know in cartoons when the light bulb comes on over someone’s head? That’s an epiphany. In mystical language you’d call it “enlightenment.”
Epiphany is the Christian holiday that celebrates the visit of the magi to the infant Jesus.
It is the last of the “12 days of Christmas,” the “Twelfth Night” of Shakespearean fame, and in Ireland they refer to it as “Little Christmas.” It also kicks off its own season which leads up to Lent.
For a long time now, we’ve let the Christmas season be defined by the shopping season – starting on “Black Friday” after Thanksgiving, and ending sometime in the nebulous period between “Gift Return Day” (the day after Christmas) and New Year’s Eve.
I like the old way better. Celebrate Advent the month before Christmas, and celebrate the Christmas season till today. Leave your decorations up! You can put them away tomorrow. I really like the idea of including the birth of a new year inside the season of celebrating the birth of Christ.
And I like the idea of Epiphany – that Persian priests took a road trip to see a newborn king, and found the last piece of the puzzle that made everything clear.
For the sake of accuracy, I like to put the wise men a little ways away from our nativity scene, scoot them a little closer each day after Christmas, and finally move them all the way over today. If you already put your nativity scene away, now’s your chance to get it back out and do Epiphany right. Especially if you’ve got one of those huge, yard-filling scenes with life size people and animals lit by floodlights. Leave the shepherds in storage and just bring out the wise men. All the Catholics will probably know what’s going on, but everyone else will be mystified. Oh, how the neighbors will talk!
So, this Epiphany, I pray that you have one, that Jesus will be at the center of it, and that it make you a wiser man or woman.
Rembrandt's "Adoration of the Magi"
