By Paul Winningham
Many Christians will observe the festival of the Epiphany this week. Epiphany (sort of rhymes with ‘we-PICK-a-knee’) comes from a Greek word meaning “to shine forth,’ or more simply, ‘shining.’ (Sometimes ‘epiphany’ is used to describe a ‘light-bulb moment or thought.’) The precise date, January 6 has been observed for many centuries. One liturgical resource noted: “Lately, especially in the western Church, the story of the Magi has been associated with this feast day. As Gentiles who were brought to faith in Jesus Christ, they represent all believers from the Gentile world.
So, who were the Magi, who brought gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh to the Christ child, and who were the Gentiles, and what is the significance of either? Let’s go on a little exploration, shall we?
In the Church year, the celebration of Christ’s birth on December 25 (nobody knows the real date of the happening) is typically seen as the Good News of the Gospel coming to the Jews, the descendants of Abraham through Isaac. Mary, Joseph, the shepherds, innkeeper and anyone else who heard of it that first night were all Jews!
Now, the Jews –the descendants of Abraham through Isaac- pretty much thought of themselves as the only people God cared about. Everyone else was a “them,” a “not us,” a (get ready for a key word:) Gentile! They seemed to totally miss God’s mysterious plan to save all: not by being a law-keeping people, but through the cross of God-the-Son, the once-for-all-time atonement for the sins of all!
God had always had a much bigger plan! Few understood it. In John the Baptist, the mystery was peeled back: “Don’t say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as our father.’ Having the genes of Abraham does not make you God’s child: hearing His Word and responding to it - is what mattered!
But God had always intended the good news to be for everyone! It is even there in the angel message to the shepherds: “For behold, I bring you good news of great joy that shall be for all the people!” Even the first promise to Abraham couldn’t have been clearer: “and in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed.” (Genesis 12:3)
The Magi -learned men from an eastern kingdom- represent all Gentiles, all those outside the children of Abraham through Isaac. For most of you reading this, this is you! And it is good news: this means that God cared enough for you and me to know His Son and to trust in His saving mercy, that He brought the light of Christ to us!
Does this light shine forth in our lives? If not…Why not?! Repentance (sorrow over sin and a Holy-Spirit-empowered change of direction) is in order as we follow Him who gave Himself for us!
Are we inclined to think that some person or people group is ‘outside’ God’s care or concern? Think again! What is important to God should be important to us as well! No racial group, nationality, or people cluster, are beyond God’s concern! Remember the most basic truth: ‘For God so loved the world that He gave His only Son, that whoever believes in Him (His Son) should not perish but have eternal life.’ (John 3:16) Epiphany signals that God means all when He says ‘all.’ He loves them; so should we!
The Collect (Prayer) for use on Epiphany follows. I encourage you to use it as your own prayer: “O God, by the leading of a star You made known Your only-begotten Son to the Gentiles. Lead us, who know You by faith, to enjoy in heaven the fullness of Your divine presence; through the same Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.”
Rev. Dr. Paul R. Winningham is pastor of Grace Lutheran and Zion Lutheran Churches in Uniontown and Longtown.
