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Epiphany
The holiday of Epiphany comes at the end of the 12 days of Christmas from December 25th until January 5th. The Sundays between
Christmas and Epiphany are called the Christmastide. Some Protestant churches consider the Epiphany to last from January 6th until
Ash Wednesday when the season of Lent begins. Some churches call the last Sunday of Epiphany Transfiguration Sunday.
Epiphany means to appear. To the ancient Greeks, epiphany meant "the appearance of divine manifestation." The Epiphany
celebrates the three appearances of Jesus as God of the Jews and Gentiles. His first time was when the wise men visited Him as a
baby in the manger:
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When they had heard the king, they departed; and, lo, the star, which they saw in the east, went before them, till it came
and stood over where the young child was. When they saw the star, they rejoiced with exceeding great joy. And when they were
come into the house, they saw the young child with Mary his mother, and fell down, and worshipped him: and when they had
opened their treasures, they presented unto him gifts; gold, and frankincense, and myrrh.
Matthew 2:9-11
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His second appearance is found in Matthew 3:16-17 when he revealed His
divinity when He was baptized by John the Baptist in the Jordan River. The third revelation of Jesus as God is at the
marriage ceremony in Cana where He turned the water into wine found in John 2:1-11.
The Bible does not give a date of these events, but many churches believed it happened on January 6th, which would be the twelfth
day of Christmas. Shakespeare's play the Twelfth Night
and the Christmas carol, The Twelve Days of Christmas
, refer to the season of Epiphany.
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Epiphany Prayer
Father, we thank you for revealing yourself to us in Jesus the Christ, we who once were not your people but whom you chose to
adopt as your people. As ancient Israel confessed long ago, we realize that it was not because of our own righteousness, or our
own superior wisdom, or strength, or power, or numbers. It was simply because you loved us, and chose to show us that love in
Jesus.
As you have accepted us when we did not deserve your love, will you help us to accept those whom we find it hard to love?
Forgive us, O Lord, for any attitude that we harbor that on any level sees ourselves as better or more righteous than others. Will
you help us to remove the barriers of prejudice and to tear down the walls of bigotry, religious or social? O Lord, help us
realize that the walls that we erect for others only form our own prisons!
Will you fill us so full of your love that there is no more room for intolerance. As you have forgiven us much, will you enable
us with your strength to forgive others even more? Will you enable us through your abiding Presence among us, communally and
individually, to live our lives in a manner worthy of the Name we bear?
May we, through your guidance and our faithful obedience, find new avenues in ways that we have not imagined of holding the Light
of your love so that it may be a Light of revelation for all people.
We thank you for your love, praise you for your Gift, ask for your continued Presence with us, and bring these petitions in the
name of your Son, who has truly revealed your heart.
Amen
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Many people leave their Christmas decorations up until Epiphany because it ends
the Christmas Season.
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