Epiphany Day is January 6. It is also called Three Kings Day or Twelfth Night. Epiphany means revelation. It is also associated with Dawning of light, an awakening, star burst or a break through.
Isaiah 60:1-6
The Hebrew people are promised that the glory of god will appear over them. Imagine the hope that people who have been sent into exile and whose nation has been overrun will have nations coming to them bring wealth to them.
Psalm 72:1-7, 10-14
This psalm may carry the superscription: Of Solomon. It is one of the royal psalms noting attributes of a good ruler. It is a great attribute when other rulers acclaim your leadership and strength as a good rule. This king is marked by justice and the care of people in need.
Ephesians 3:1-12
Paul’s experience on the Road to Damascus was a life altering experience where he both came to realize that he was not in as good a standing with God as he had believed and when he came to believe that God had chosen him to share the gospel especially with the Gentiles. Paul called it a mystery – something no one had figured out until God revealed it. In vs. 10, Paul specifically says that it si God’s intent to use the Church both to share that message, but also to model that message. How does that match your life experiences with Church?
Matthew 2:1-12
The story of the magi is recorded only in Matthew and only the story of genocide and Mary and Joseph and Jesus’ escape and sojourn in Egypt. Matthew describes all of that as revelation of prophecy. The Magi are foreigners to Israel and yet folks from distant lands receive the Good News of the birth of the Christ before the most powerful in Israel. Herod is not a Jew and does not know prophecy. He has to rely on the learned from Israel. It is interesting to note that when the Magi ask where the new king of Israel was born, Herod asked the chief priest and teachers of the law where the Christ was to born. Herod asks privately of the Magi when they first saw the star. There answer must have been two years. They must have been astonished that in two years the king would not have found out of the birth of this child. The scripture does not directly tell us the number two years. In vs. 16, when Herod orders the genocide of all boys two years and under. The star continues to lead the Magi to Bethlehem. Mary and Joseph now live in a house where the Magi bring gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh to honor the king. We know the number of gifts, but not the number of Magi! These are told in a dream not to return to Herod and reveal where the Christ is so they go home by a different route. While Luke’s gospel only includes stories of folks who are Jewish (Mary, Joseph, Elizabeth, Zechariah, Simeon and Anna), Matthew includes people from other countries. Of what significance is that to you?