Today, we celebrate Epiphany... many people enjoy a feast or a good meal on this day... perhaps an outing to a restaurant or a special home-cooked meal.
Epiphany, (Koine Greek: ἐπιφάνεια, epiphaneia, "manifestation", "striking appearance") or Theophany, (Ancient Greek (ἡ) Θεοφάνεια, Τheophaneia) meaning "vision of God", which falls on 6 January, is a Christian feast day that celebrates the revelation of God the Son as a human being in Jesus Christ. Western Christians commemorate principally (but not solely) the visitation of the Biblical Magi to the Baby Jesus, and thus Jesus' physical manifestation to the Gentiles. Eastern Christians commemorate the baptism of Jesus in the Jordan River, seen as his manifestation to the world as the Son of God.
Souce: Wikipedia
Epiphany wasn't particularly celebrated in my family while I was growing up... so epiphany, to me, meant a feeling... this:
e·piph·a·ny
n. pl. e·piph·a·nies
a. A sudden manifestation of the essence or meaning of something.
b. A comprehension or perception of reality by means of a sudden intuitive realization: "I experienced an epiphany, a spiritual flash that would change the way I viewed myself" (Frank Maier).
Source: The Free Dictionary
It wasn't until I was much older that I realized Christ-followers marked Epiphany... celebrating the revelation of God the Son as a human being in Jesus Christ. What an epiphany it was for me! :-)
Since then, I've equated each New Year with Epiphany... celebrating the beautiful reality in my life of Emmanuel, God with us... His merciful love doesn't dry up... they're created new every morning {or every New Year!}... His faithfulness so great!
It's interesting though how the two meanings {for the celebration Epiphany and the word epiphany} are intertwined in that each one of us needs to come to our own epiphany of the Epiphany... that it is not merely an event in history that we can mark but it is actually a beautiful reality that we can celebrate and call our very own... this Emmanuel, Christ with us!
So... a special meal or feast would be great for tonight... but I don't think it's happening this year! In just a little while, we will be driving across town to drop off my girl for a weekend away at a training retreat. For March Break, she will be going {with peeps from her youth group} on a mission trip to UrbanPromise in Wilmington, Delaware... to *be* Jesus' hands and feet to needy children who live in the inner-city neighbourhoods there... to live out Love... Love in action... demonstrating the true meaning of Epiphany!
Happy Epiphany, friends! May you know the reality of God's presence... He is near and ready to answer when you call on His name!
Since then, I've equated each New Year with Epiphany... celebrating the beautiful reality in my life of Emmanuel, God with us... His merciful love doesn't dry up... they're created new every morning {or every New Year!}... His faithfulness so great!
It's interesting though how the two meanings {for the celebration Epiphany and the word epiphany} are intertwined in that each one of us needs to come to our own epiphany of the Epiphany... that it is not merely an event in history that we can mark but it is actually a beautiful reality that we can celebrate and call our very own... this Emmanuel, Christ with us!
So... a special meal or feast would be great for tonight... but I don't think it's happening this year! In just a little while, we will be driving across town to drop off my girl for a weekend away at a training retreat. For March Break, she will be going {with peeps from her youth group} on a mission trip to UrbanPromise in Wilmington, Delaware... to *be* Jesus' hands and feet to needy children who live in the inner-city neighbourhoods there... to live out Love... Love in action... demonstrating the true meaning of Epiphany!
Happy Epiphany, friends! May you know the reality of God's presence... He is near and ready to answer when you call on His name!
Unwrapping more of His love in this world.
Act justly. Love mercy. Walk humbly with God!
We celebrated Epiphany last year, but this year it didn't happen. I have been too under the weather.
ReplyDeleteHappy New Year and blessings to you and your family!
Deborah