In the church calendar in England we call the church festival on the 6th of January Epiphany whereas in Finland it is called Loppiainen. The Finnish term focuses our attention on the end of the Christmas season. In contrast Epiphany focuses on the revealing of God to men in his Son Jesus. Epiphany comes from a Greek word meaning revealing.
In church tradition, Epiphany is the celebration of the coming of the wise men from the East bringing their gifts to Jesus. In Spain it is the day when Christmas gifts are given out.
A close study of the Bible shows that in fact the wise men could not have come to Jesus twelve days after his birth. We know from Luke’s gospel that Jesus was circumcised on the eighth day (Luke 2v21) and then taken to the temple at the time of Mary’s purification on the 40th day (Luke 2v22). After the visit of the wise men Matthew tells us that the whole family had to leave immediately for Egypt (Matt. 2v13-15). This means that the purification time for Mary was already over.
However, even if the timing of the coming of the wise men is not correct in the calendar it is still an important event. Here we have an example of people who were alert to the signs God gave them. They responded and brought what they could. Their gifts to Jesus were not just nice Christmas gifts. They were valuable gifts that helped the family survive in Egypt when they had to flee from King Herod’s killers.
From them we learn to be alert to the signs of the times in which we live. We learn how God can guide us to people in need. We learn how the gifts we can give can be of crucial help for people facing challenges in life.
Let’s be wise people this year. Let’s be alert to what God is saying, be obedient and give what we can. Through us God can raise up people who, together with us, can change our city and our world. May God grant us this epiphany.
Graham Turner
