Epiphany
by the Rev. Charlie Dupree
Today is January 6th – the Feast of the Epiphany. The twelve days of the Christmas season have passed. Now that you’ve collected your partridge in a pear tree, your turtle doves, swimming swans, drummers drumming, (you get the point,) we turn our eyes to the stars.
Epiphany is the day on which we typically commemorate the journey of the three Magi who make their way to the infant Jesus by the leading of a star. Epiphany comes from words meaning “to show.” It marks the ways in which God, through Jesus, is made known to the world. As we heard in Rainey’s excellent sermon on Sunday (click here to view), the Magi represent a gentile population. They were from the east – strangers – foreigners – off of the radar. Yet, they are a crucial and beloved part of God’s creation; they are invited to and welcome at the manger. During Epiphany, we are invited to consider all of the creative and beautiful ways – the unexpected and the mysterious – that God is made known to us.
The Epiphany is also characterized by the imagery of the journey. Just as the wise people traveled for days and weeks toward the birthplace of God, so do we, God’s people, continue the journey from our different perspectives toward knowledge of self, and toward a broader perspective of who God is and how God is revealed in creation and in our neighbor – even those from “afar.”
A prayer for the Feast of the Epiphany . . .
O God, by the leading of a star you manifested your only Son to the peoples of the earth: Lead us, who know you now by faith, to your presence, where we may see your glory face to face; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.
You and I are on quite a journey, aren’t we? We continue to journey through this strange landscape of a pandemic. At times, we get lost. We take wrong turns. We get angry. We get down off our camels and say, “That’s enough! No more journey for me!”
Yet, something within calls us to move toward God’s presence. Something within calls us to be God’s presence. You never know . . . sometimes we move toward the North Star. Sometimes, we are the North Star for others.
How is God leading you? What is God leading you toward? What is God trying to show you?
May God bless you as you continue your journey. May your camel be strong and good-spirited. May you stay in your saddle. May your stars be bright.
ONE MORE THING . . . On the first Sunday after the Feast of the Epiphany, we celebrate the Baptism of our Lord. Typically, we’d come together in church and baptize children and/or adults. In that spirit, this Sunday at St. Paul’s, we’ll renew our baptismal covenant and have virtual Holy Eucharist. Please tune in! You can find our Sunday services every week on our live stream webpage HERE.
Peace,
Charlie+
Rector