Epiphany!
This week we are celebrating Epiphany - what is Epiphany you ask? Well Epiphany is the moment - any moment - when the HOLY is revealed!
However in Church we celebrate a day called Epiphany on January 6th - yup that is right a whole day. We celebrate this day, the day the wise man, the Magi, arrived at the Christ Child feet and presented presents. Although we like to put the Magi in our Naivety scene the whole of Advent and we like to count the three Magi we actually don't know how many Magi there were nor what time they actually arrived to meet Jesus. We do know there were a "few" Magi and we know that there they came when Jesus was a toddler.
But let's not get stuck on the details. They came to proclaim and witness the fact that the Holy is revealed to Earth in a baby. The came to proclaim that indeed the Messiah had been born and that one day all people would be offered salvation. They came to offer gifts to a child who didn't yet know the world he would come to save. It was for them a true Epiphany. They met face to face the divine incarnate. How truly wonderful.
I had my own "Epiphany" as you will, when I heard God's voice calling me into ministry. I had never thought about "being" a minister before that moment and it was such a strong voice inside me, I knew I had to listen. God's voice revealed to be the Divine plan for my life and I was changed. My own Epiphany has led me here today to stand and know that the Christ Child does save.
I think it is also very fitting that Epiphany is at the beginning of the New Year. Just a few days after you have made resolutions, broke them, and promised to be better. Just a few days after reflecting on the years past has brought insight, and hopefully happiness, to your year ahead. Just when we need more hope for a great year we celebrate Epiphany - the Holy Revealing! A perfect time to realize that the gift of Christ on Christmas morning is useless, unless you accept the package. That it isn't about "taking back" God's gift or using once a year. Christmas morning is about the birth of Christ, God dwelling amongst us and with us. God walking with us on this journey so that we may NEVER walk alone. Surely Jesus now reigns with God in the Kingdom, but through the Spirit we are never alone - our God walks with us. Let us remember that each and every day. Let us find ways to have Epiphany last for more then a moment ... Today and each day let us see the Holy Revealed to us and find the awesomeness of our God working in our lives!
