By Deacon Joanne O’Neill
It has been just a few weeks since Christmas – and the Epiphany
2 feasts central to our faith
If Christmas is the great revelation –
when the Incarnation makes itself known.
Then the Epiphany celebrates the “seeing –
The seeing of what was revealed on Christmas.
On the night of Christmas, just a few witnessed that miracle birth:
the shepherds, the angels, and of course, Mary and Joseph
But the Epiphany is much bigger than that –
It is the feast of the proclamation and manifestation of
What was to come
The child Jesus as the savior and redeemer to people beyond that first small
circle – even beyond the Jewish nation –
Radiating outward to the “gentiles,”
and so to all nations and persons – in all future times
And hopefully, still to us – today.
Christmas – as the event could be fleeting
it means different things to different people.
Some of us prepare for it with a lot of decorating, baking of cookies and
wrapping of presents –
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We spend the day or the week enjoying time with friends and family
For others, it can be a difficult time — for one reason or another,
they are not in the mood for festivities
And prefer to spend the time quietly –
Still others just want to do something different –
Maybe take a vacation – or go to the movies
To change from the old, sometimes more restrictive “traditional” ways.
Certainly we had to do that this year.
But the Epiphany is for everyone. – it has universal appeal.
The word itself has deeply religious roots.
For the ancient Greeks,, epipháneia,
meant something brought to humans by the gods.
So it wasn’t much of a stretch for Christians to adopt the word for the revelation of
God through the infant Jesus to the three wise men.
“something brought to humans by the gods. “
In more modern times – with roots in early 20th century literature,
The word took on a secular meaning
Epiphany: “an intuitive grasp of reality,”
Epiphany – the ah-ha moment – like in St. Paul’s conversion
the instant when the mind, the body, the heart,
and the soul focus together and see an old thing in a new way.”
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This kind of seeing is important in Scripture
It has been echoed in the recent gospels
The Baptism: John “sees” Jesus – and the Father “sees” the Son
The Calling of the Disciples: Jesus “sees” Philip, Simon & Andrew and
calls to them; they “see” him and follow
Jesus is recognized/seen as a new spiritual/religious authority
Word is getting around –
and the crowds come to see him as the healer.
So what does it mean “to see?”
Sight is the most symbolic of the senses:
In its most basic meaning “seeing” is the physical mechanics
of the eye – the physical act of “seeing”
But it also means perceiving/understanding
I see = I understand.
A lot of times, bits and chips of information
are spread before us like those moving images in a kaleidoscope
If we look long enough,
They arrange themselves
into an organized whole –
which then becomes useful information
If we fail to see the whole,
No image is formed,
and we draw a blank.
We say…I don’t see….I don’t get it…I don’t understand.
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OR, we could all be looking at the same item, or situation
And “see” different things.
That’s what Christmas is like –
It provides
a kaleidoscope of sensory images:
The candles, the lights on the trees –
The children in Nativity scene costumes –
The shepherds, angels, the sheep
Then there are the sounds – the familiar carols we all know & love
Silent Night – the First Noel
Or the more classical, medieval sounds like Handel’s Messiah.
But almost immediately these images
Become memories –
Memories soon to be replaced by Super Bowl and the Oscars.
So how can we hold on?
once the stars have realigned…
the shepherds are once again tending their sheep
and all the Christmas decorations are back up in the attic
I received a Christmas card this year…that offers some suggestions
that I wanted to share with you.
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During this Christmas Season….
Mend a quarrel…seek out a forgotten friend…
Dismiss suspicion and replace it with trust. Write a love letter.
Share some treasure…give a soft answer…Encourage youth…
Manifest your loyalty in the word and deed. Keep a promise.
Find the time. Forego a grudge. Forgive an enemy.
Listen. Apologize if you are wrong. Try to understand. Float envy.
Examine your demands on others. Think of your neighbor first.
Be appreciative. Be kind and gentle. Laugh a little more.
Be deserving of the confidence of others.
Extend your hand to a stranger and the warmth of your heart to a child.
Find beauty in all that surrounds you.
Speak your love. Speak it again. Speak it still once again.
Amen.