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Epiphany, which means to show, is a season of light, when Jesus is revealed to be the light of the world. During Epiphany, God is made obvious through the flesh and blood presence of His son, Jesus, on earth. The first celebration during Epiphany is the day of Epiphany itself, which Western Christians celebrate on January 6. That day, the festival of light, celebrates the visit of the three Wise Men to the Baby Jesus in Bethlehem.
During the Season of Epiphany (January 6-February 21 this year) we track the Wise Men as they follow the star to Bethlehem. We follow the disciples as they learn to follow Jesus. We also learn to be careful of Herod, a leader who asked the Wise Men to return with location and information on the child. Matthew’s Gospel reads, “And having been warned in a dream not to return to Herod, they left for their own country.” After encountering the Christ child, the magi are required to take a different track home. Is this something we should consider?
Each and every year we spend lots of time and energy to strive for the perfect Christmas moment. Our hearts are touched by the carols and services during those twelve days. Now that the twelve days are over and we are in the Season of Epiphany are we back to the old road of normal? Are we on our way back to Herod? Or has the encounter of Christ caused us to consider a different path?
I would purpose that most of the time we return to our Herod habits. We embrace fear, anxiety, jealousy, suspicions, and doubt. We return to old thought habits of limits, bias, prejudice, and scarcity. We begin to justify the selfish mindset of ‘better get mine while I can’. We say to our family and friends, “If that other person would change, our lives would be so much better.” Just a brief reminder the dream asked the Wise Men to take a different road. It told them not to return to Herod.
Like the magi, Christians are called to take another road. We are called to vocalize calm, reassurance, understanding, openness, equality, and trust in those we encounter because we have been at the manger and seen the Christ child. Unfortunately, life won’t let us stay glued to the euphoria of Christmas Day. Just like the magi we must return to our lives, but by another road. A road less traveled by the world, which requires hard work and a deliberate change of attitude on our part.
Today we return to our own country with hope, confidence, and joyful expectations- attesting to the child with Mary his mother. We do this to show the world that God is made obvious through the flesh and blood presence of His son, Jesus, on earth. Therefore let us, today’s Christians, repeat the actions of the Wise Men by continuing on another road with the light of him that shines through us into the world.
About the author
Galen Snodgrass is a deacon at the Grace Episcopal Church and Chaplain at Mercy McCune-Brooks Hospital.
Epiphany, which means to show, is a season of light, when Jesus is revealed to be the light of the world. During Epiphany, God is made obvious through the flesh and blood presence of His son, Jesus, on earth. The first celebration during Epiphany is the day of Epiphany itself, which Western Christians celebrate on January 6. That day, the festival of light, celebrates the visit of the three Wise Men to the Baby Jesus in Bethlehem.
During the Season of Epiphany (January 6-February 21 this year) we track the Wise Men as they follow the star to Bethlehem. We follow the disciples as they learn to follow Jesus. We also learn to be careful of Herod, a leader who asked the Wise Men to return with location and information on the child. Matthew’s Gospel reads, “And having been warned in a dream not to return to Herod, they left for their own country.” After encountering the Christ child, the magi are required to take a different track home. Is this something we should consider?
Each and every year we spend lots of time and energy to strive for the perfect Christmas moment. Our hearts are touched by the carols and services during those twelve days. Now that the twelve days are over and we are in the Season of Epiphany are we back to the old road of normal? Are we on our way back to Herod? Or has the encounter of Christ caused us to consider a different path?
I would purpose that most of the time we return to our Herod habits. We embrace fear, anxiety, jealousy, suspicions, and doubt. We return to old thought habits of limits, bias, prejudice, and scarcity. We begin to justify the selfish mindset of ‘better get mine while I can’. We say to our family and friends, “If that other person would change, our lives would be so much better.” Just a brief reminder the dream asked the Wise Men to take a different road. It told them not to return to Herod.
Like the magi, Christians are called to take another road. We are called to vocalize calm, reassurance, understanding, openness, equality, and trust in those we encounter because we have been at the manger and seen the Christ child. Unfortunately, life won’t let us stay glued to the euphoria of Christmas Day. Just like the magi we must return to our lives, but by another road. A road less traveled by the world, which requires hard work and a deliberate change of attitude on our part.
Today we return to our own country with hope, confidence, and joyful expectations- attesting to the child with Mary his mother. We do this to show the world that God is made obvious through the flesh and blood presence of His son, Jesus, on earth. Therefore let us, today’s Christians, repeat the actions of the Wise Men by continuing on another road with the light of him that shines through us into the world.
About the author
Galen Snodgrass is a deacon at the Grace Episcopal Church and Chaplain at Mercy McCune-Brooks Hospital.
