Solemnity of the Epiphany of the Lord - January 2, 2011: Venite Adoremus

Click Here to Read the Mass Readings for the Solemnity of Epiphany (Sunday, January 2, 2011):

"When Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea, in the days of King Herod, behold, magi from the east arrived in Jerusalem, saying, 'Where is the newborn king of the Jews? We saw his star at its rising and have come to do him homage.'" (Mt 2: 1-2)

NOTE: Although some countries celebrate Epiphany on January 6 each year (like Italy), many countries have transferred this feast to the Sunday between January 2 and 8.  Since so many people celebrate Epiphany this year on January 2, this Sunday's reflection will be focused on the readings for Epiphany, and not those of the 2nd Sunday of Christmas.

The word "epiphany" is the English translation of the Greek "epiphaneia", meaning "appearance" or "manifestation".  On this day the Church celebrates the manifestation of the Lord Jesus to the world.  Until this moment the mystery of Jesus' Incarnation and birth unfolded in secret, and were known only to a privileged few.  With the feast of Epiphany we celebrate the moment in which the glory and love of God were revealed to the world in the Person of Jesus Christ.  With the appearance of the three magi, (all of whom are Gentile, or non-Jewish, kings), there is the first indication that God plans to save not only the Jewish people, but all peoples through Jesus Christ.

Historically there are three significant moments connected to the feast of Epiphany: the adoration of the magi (pictured above), the baptism of Jesus in the Jordan (when the Father spoke from heaven, and the Holy Spirit descended upon Jesus in the form of a dove), and also Jesus' first miracle in Cana (where He revealed is divinity by changing water into wine).  In the western part of the Church the feast focuses on the adoration of the magi.  In fact, to those of us in the west, the other two moments in which Jesus is "manifested" to the world are not commonly known to be a part of Epiphany, but they are known and celebrated in the Eastern Catholic rites, especially the baptism of the Lord.  To highlight the full richness of the feast of Epiphany, and to inspire a broader contemplation of the mystery, I am posting three images (for your viewing pleasure) representing each "manifestation" of Christ to the world.

There are several thoughts that come to mind as the celebration of Epiphany draws near, but I would like to reflect briefly on only one point: the importance of Jesus' "manifestation" for our modern world, and in particular, for all disciples of Christ.

Sacred Scripture tells us in various ways that Jesus is the complete revelation or "manifestation" of God: "He is the image of the invisible God" (Col 1:15); and "whoever has seen me has seen the Father" (Jn 14:7); and Jesus' statement (of particular importance) that "no one knows the Father except the Son..." (Mt 11:27).  There are many more quotable passages, but the point is that Scripture speaks of Jesus Christ as the full and complete revelation of the mystery of God, and that through Him God's mysterious plan of salvation has been revealed in its entirety - even if the depth of this mystery remains inexhaustible.

But why is all of this of great importance for our modern world, and for us as disciples of Christ?  To start with, many Catholics, and Christians in general, do not believe that Jesus Christ is the sole source of all true knowledge about God.  As a priest I often meet people convinced that their actions are good and pleasing to God (and that heaven is their certain and everlasting reward), even if they know their actions are in direct contradiction or in violation of what Jesus has revealed.  If you ask them about the basis for such certainty their responses usually point to a foundation constituted out of "feelings" and what is defined as "normal" for pop culture.  The classical phrases employed to justify an ongoing breach of God's commands are many - and some of them are already very popular cliches: "it doesn't feel wrong", or "how can it be wrong when it feels so right?"; "but I do it for love"; "but everyone does it"; "that's your opinion"; "I don't agree with that", etc...  In practice, many live as if they had received some other revelation from God superior (albeit contradictory) to what Jesus has revealed.  If we believe and hold on to something that is in contradiction to what Jesus or the Church teaches we need to pause and ask the question, "how can I be certain that my knowledge of God is accurate, especially since it goes against Jesus' knowledge of the Father?"

We live in a very relativistic age where the existence or "knowledge of good and evil" is said to be determined by each individual, regardless of what God has said.  It's the same problem that got Adam and Eve into trouble in the first place - we keep wanting to eat from the "tree of knowledge of good and evil", and not from the "tree of life".

The feast of Epiphany proclaims to the world the hidden mystery of Jesus' birth and that God has come among us to save us.  Epiphany proclaims that God wants to be known, that He wishes to speak to us of His plan and show us the only definitive way to "life in abundance".  Jesus' "manifestation" to the world not only reveals God's face to us, but in revealing Himself to us God also reveals the answer to the deepest and most mysterious longings in the heart of each man and woman.  As we have been created in the image and likeness of God, so we discover ourselves as we gaze upon Jesus, who is the visible "image of the invisible God".  May we accept Jesus Christ as He has revealed Himself to us, and may we always trust His knowledge of the Father.  Have a blessed and joyful Epiphany!

(Photos of the "Epiphany at the Jordan" and "Epiphany at Cana" courtesy of Dcn. Lawrence Lew, O.P.)