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EPIPHANY is an ancient festival of the church catholic; throughout most the past 2000 years, it has been a bigger celebration with more focus than Christmas but in the past 200 years or so, has faded (especially in English speaking areas) and even moved to Christmas and made a small aspect of that.
It has several aspects ...
The word "epiphany" means to realize, to reveal, to manifest, to "get it." WHAT exactly is being revealed? WHAT exactly do we "get" and realize because of this event in Matthew 2?
1. The universality of God's love. Jesus came for EVERYONE! He was born for EVERYONE! Jesus died for EVERYONE! At Christmas, JEWISH shepherds came to worship Jesus as the Jewish Messiah, but at Epiphany, GENTILES came to worship also as OUR Savior. Epiphany has long been called "The Gentiles' Christmas" A very important part of the celebration is the UNIVERSALITY of Christ and our Christian religion.
2. Jesus is the Divine Savior and King! This is the proclamation of the very unusual gifts.... GOLD (the Gift FOR Kings), FRANKINCENSE (The Gift for God), MYRRH (Burial oil, the Gift for the Savior who would die for our sins).
3 It is God who leads us to Christ. We don't find Him on our own; God provides a 'light' and brings us to Him.
4. Those who are lead to Christ, those who believe in Him, those who worship Him are WISE. The Bible never calls them "wise men" (both times, it calls them "magoi" the term "wise men" comes from Tradition although some some English translations honor by actually so translating "magoi"). Epiphany celebrates the wisdom that comes from God, the wisdom of faith.
There are several TRADITIONS, things often accepted but the Bible actually never says or implies...
1. There were 3. And they represented the 3 races of humanity (one European, one south African, one from the east). This comes not from the 3 gifts (although that makes things convenient for artists!) but from the Roman belief that there are 3 races; the tradition flows from the Epiphany affirmation that Jesus is for everyone.
2. They were kings. Actually, the men GAVE gold, they didn't receive it - so a better view would be that they affirmed JESUS as king, not that they were kings. But this idea that they were kings is very ancient. In some parts of the world, Epiphany is called "Three Kings Day"
3. They came on January 6. Actually, we have no idea when they came; only that it's obviously after Christmas. King Herod ordered the murder of all boys 2 and under which MAY (just may) imply HE at least thought Jesus might be that old by then (or maybe it's just over kill - literally). Early on, the Christmas Season was 12 days long (The Twelve Days of Christmas) and Epiphany followed that, thus when December 25 was chosen to celebrate Christmas, well 13 days later.... Nativity scenes that have Shepherds and the Magi at the manger at the same time are very likely wrong.
In English speaking countries, many Protestants (especially "Evangelicals") have pretty much abandoned Epiphany which I find sad. I recall being in Spain during this time and was quite amazed by the celebration - even more than among Catholics here in the USA.
The Epiphany Season of the Church Year varies in length but can have up to 8 Sundays in it (much longer than the Christmas Season) and stresses the themes of Epiphany - the Divinity of Jesus, the Universality of Grace, the wisdom that comes down from above. It ends with the festival of the Transfiguration.
A blessed Epiphany to you and yours!
Josiah
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