Epiphany

"Epiphany" means the manifestation of divinity, according to Webster's Dictionary. In the Bible, it denotes the day when the magi or Three Kings reached the stable, where Jesus was born. Before this visit from the magi, the birth of Jesus was a private event, known for certain only to His earthly parents -- and to God. After this momentous visit, news of the birth of the Babe who was to change the world was carried far and wide. A manifestation of the Divine.

Let the irony of this event not be lost on us. Here were powerful Kings, clothed in luxurious finery, bearing expensive gifts. At first blush, the magi appear to be the powerful ones, especially when held in contrast to the quiet Joseph and the young peasant girl Mary, who hovered over the babe in the lowly manger. And yet, who is the Powerful One here?

I used to love this story as a child, for the wonderful explanation it gave me about why we give each other gifts at Christmas. Now, as I have grown wiser myself, I realize that this is a story more about God's great Gift to US.

AND about the Journey. It certainly seems like it took the Wise Men a long time to get to Bethlehem. How often we get lost on our Journey ourselves. We focus on our material riches, our fancy clothes and our presumed power. But these are as irrelevant to God as frankincense and myrrh are to a newborn Babe!

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