On most Church Year Calendars, January 6 is the Festival of the Epiphany. Because of different determination of dates in the Eastern and Western Orthodox Churches, there are exceptions to this. In our modern way of living it is difficult for us to think of Epiphany as a Festival Day.

It is as if we say we can’t be bothered with Church Days that don’t fall on Sunday except for maybe Ash Wednesday and Good Friday. It hasn’t always been that way. In the early days of my ministry, I read that the local Episcopal Church was holding a Festival of Lights on the evening of January 6. I didn’t know what it was. Today, if we talk about a Festival of Lights people think of some of the big and beautiful Christmas Light displays.

In reality, I did know what the Festival of Lights was; I had never heard of Epiphany being called by that name. I would like it better if it were a longer name such as, "The Festival of Jesus Christ, the LIGHT of the world, shining for all the world to see." Epiphany signals the arrival of the first Gentiles, The Wise Men, the Three Kings, The Magi, however you want to name them, arriving to worship the Christ Child.

Up until then, only the Children of Israel held to the promise that the Messiah would come. Herod had heard rumors of a "King" that was born. Herod wanted to find that "King" to kill him. The Wise Men wanted to find that King to worship Him.

After the Wise Men had presented their gifts and worshipped and praised the Christ Child, they were divinely warned to return home another way. 

And so they did. Here is the interesting part. There is no hint if the Wise Men were instructed to tell or to not tell others what they had experienced. It is my belief that there was no need for that kind of instruction. They had been led to Bethlehem by the Light of the Star. As they worshipped the New Born King, they were filled by the LIGHT that comes from being in His Presence. When they returned home, they allowed the LIGHT of Jesus Christ, the Light of the World to flow through them and into the lives of others as they shared the glories of their trip.

On that first Epiphany, the LIGHT of the Star led these Gentiles to be filled with LIGHT at the manger so that they could reveal that LIGHT to the Gentile world, a world that was lost in darkness and sin. Look at our world. Don’t wear blinders, don’t try to hide from the fact that we live in a world of darkness, of sin, of depression and loneliness, a world where it is so much fun and so easy to serve Satan. I believe that right now, on this Epiphany or on whatever day you read this, our Heavenly Father is asking, Who is going to turn on the LIGHT?"

For a well written explanation of the Epiphany, I would suggest that you go to http://markdaniels.blogspot.com/2007/01/happy-epiphany-day.html to read what my friend and colleague, Mark Daniels, has written.
 

God’s Peace. See You At The House.

01/06/07