When it is used in ordinary speech, “epiphany” may be nothing more than a synonym for “appearance”. Sometimes, I hear someone using it to describe their coming to a sudden and unexpected realisation. Neither of these does anything like justice to our “epiphany”, but if we take them together they do preserve some aspects of the fuller version which are genuinely important.
An epiphany is an act of witness: something that we have to see. We may not be able to rival the Magi with a journey from the ends of the known world in search of the King of the Jews. But we can still imitate them by a little pilgrimage: to church, to worship, to prayer.
An epiphany changes us, from a state of ignorance to a state of knowledge.
We should not depart for our own country — not by any road — without having learned something, or realised something, or without being re-energised for whatever lies before us.
The vision that greets us when we behold our infant King and know him for who and what he is must be treasured. We depart bearing a knowledge more precious than any of the gifts we came with. But, above all, that Epiphany vision is for sharing. The Light must beget light; for, taken all together, the three readings for the Epiphany are shot through with light — dawn light; star light; and, above all, divine light
Isaiah 60.1-6; Psalm 72.[1-9] 10-15; Ephesians 3.1-12; Matthew 2.1-12
May 2023 bring hope, light and love
love and prayers Revd Sara
