The Epiphany

Fasts and Feasts

Transcript
Welcome to Fasts and Feasts, a guided tour of the church year. I'm your host, Jared Henderson. Today we're celebrating the Epiphany.Epiphany marks the close of the 12 days of the Christmas season, so it is finally time to take the Christmas tree, stop lighting candles and turning on your Christmas lights, and time to put away the carols for another 11 months or so. There is some disagreement in the Western church about whether Epiphany is a day or a season. In Anglican churches, generally, it is merely a day, but some other Protestant churches celebrate it as a season. The Roman Catholic Church celebrates Christmas a bit longer, taking Epiphany to be a proper subset of the Christmas season.
But those are calendar quibbles, and we don't need to focus too much on those. Let's try to focus on the 'reason for the season' — the life and work of Jesus. Epiphany celebrates the coming of the Magi as told in the story of Matthew 2:Now after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, behold, wise men from the east came to Jerusalem, saying, “Where is he who has been born king of the Jews? For we saw his star when it rose and have come to worship him.” When Herod the king heard this, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him; and assembling all the chief priests and scribes of the people, he inquired of them where the Christ was to be born. ****They told him, “In Bethlehem of Judea, for so it is written by the prophet: “‘And you, O Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, are by no means least among the rulers of Judah; for from you shall come a ruler who will shepherd my people Israel.’” Then Herod summoned the wise men secretly and ascertained from them what time the star had appeared. And he sent them to Bethlehem, saying, “Go and search diligently for the child, and when you have found him, bring me word, that I too may come and worship him.” ****After listening to the king, they went on their way. And behold, the star that they had seen when it rose went before them until it came to rest over the place where the child was. ****When they saw the star, they rejoiced exceedingly with great joy. ****And going into the house, they saw the child with Mary his mother, and they fell down and worshiped him. Then, opening their treasures, they offered him gifts, gold and frankincense and myrrh. ****And being warned in a dream not to return to Herod, they departed to their own country by another way.This is a really cool story, because it tells us a few important things about Jesus. For one, Jesus' birth was foretold — not just by the prophets of Israel, but by the stars. The magi, the wise men, were able to tell that the king of the Jews was to be born. All of creation heralded the arrival of the newborn king.
Second, the revelation of Jesus was known to more than just the Jews. There is no indication that the wise men are Jewish, and in fact the text strongly suggests they are Gentiles. So we have a heralding of the opening of the new covenant — as Simeon will put later, Jesus is a light to enlighten the Gentiles.
Third, we see earthly authorities either submitting to Jesus or attempting to overthrow him and his rule. Those who submit we remember as wise men; we honor them. Those who attempt to overthrow, like Herod, are remember with scorn. There is a powerful message here: Jesus truly is King of Kings, and he will brook no challengers to his throne. But followers and subjects will be blessed!
There are many traditions that go with Epiphany, such as chalking the doors or having one's house blessed. There are also many great songs — such as 'We Three Kings.'
That brings us to a fun fact about Epiphany and the story it celebrates. We sing of three kings, but the Biblical text does not number the wise men. It numbers the gifts. Now, traditionally it is believed that there were three kings, one for each gift, but this is a matter on which the Gospels are silent. So while I don't necessarily believe there were three kings exactly (I am officially agnostic on this issue), I have no problem singing 'We Three Kings.'
CollectAlright friends — let's close with a collect from the 1662 Book of Common Prayer.O GOD, who by the leading of a star didst manifest thy only-begotten Son to the Gentiles: Mercifully grant, that we, which know thee now by faith, may after this life have the fruition of thy glorious Godhead; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

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