Epiphany comes from the Latin word epiphaneia meaning “manifestation,” that is, to make known something that was previously hidden.
The season of Epiphany (January 6 until Ash Wednesday) remembers four major revelations in the life of Christ:
The revelation of the God to the Gentiles (represented by the journey of the Magi).
The revelation of Jesus as the son of God at his baptism.
The revelation of Jesus’s power at the wedding at Cana.
The revelation of Jesus's glory at the transfiguration.
During Epiphany, we contemplate God revealed to us as we journey towards eternity. In this season of proclamation, we are reminded that as image bearers of God, we have been transformed into walking epiphanies, mini-manifestations of God shining forth in the dark world.
Pray
Almighty God, whose Son our Savior Jesus Christ is the light of the world: Grant that your people, illumined by your Word and Sacraments, may shine with the radiance of Christ’s glory, that he may be known, worshiped, and obeyed to the ends of the earth; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who with you and the Holy Spirit lives and reigns, one God, now and for ever. Amen.
Book of Common Prayer, Collect for the Second Sunday of Epiphany
Sing
Increase
If the church year is supposed to mirror the life of Christ, then the season of Epiphany spans near 30 years from the flight to Egypt until his temptation in the wilderness. We know little about these first 30 years of Jesus's life. What we do know is that he was “about his Father's business” (Luke 2:49) and he “increased in wisdom and in stature and in favor with God and man” (Luke 2:52).
These two verses set the tone for how we engage in Epiphany - it is a season to be about our Father's business, increasing in wisdom and in favor with God and with man. Since we have about four more weeks of Epiphany before Lent begins, this is a a great time to try out a new discipline (or maybe just read the book of Proverbs!) and ask that the Lord would use this season to teach you how to better be about his business, granting you an increase in wisdom and favor.
May the Lord give you increase, you and your children! May you be blessed by the Lord, who made heaven and earth!
