Epiphany and Epiphanies
Feast of Epiphany, January 7, 2024
Lauren Basile and Helen Weber-McReynolds
Sirach 24: 1-5, 12-20; Ps. 96 (Gather #93); Eph 3: 2-11; Matt 2: 1-12
Lauren-
A few nights ago, my son's, both self proclaimed atheists, were at our dinner table. The partner of my oldest son, herself raised Catholic, commented on my Christmas t-shirt, which read, "Rejoice in the birth of a dark-skinned, undocumented immigrant", and has a colorful graphic of the three Wisemen leading their camels to the manger with Mary, Joseph and Jesus. I thanked her, then started to share an epiphany of my own, directly related to the message on the t-shirt, and to the census, purportedly ordered by Herod; what the reason for that story might actually have been. As soon as I said that the census might not have actually happened, and that the three Wisemen might not have actually existed, both son burst into conversation, vehemently defending the story. I was stunned into silence.
Neither of these two young men believe in the existence of God. They scoff at the idea of a virgin birth. But try to deny the existence of the three Wisemen, and they weren't having any of it! Wow! I watched both of their faces as they checked out their facts with each other, both looking at his brother for confirmation. When the discussion between my sons stopped, I merely said, "And that could be true too." After all, what is truth anyway?
But I haven't been able to get the whole thing out of my mind. Why were the three Wiseman so important to them? Why are they so important to me? Why and how do I honor their story? Were their reactions somehow related to the Epiphany rituals we'd kept as a family? How do those, and any other rituals we celebrate really connect us and create our truths? For me, those rituals often focus on food. I love the creative outlet that baking affords me. The way it can bring me into the present moment, blocking out everything else. When I combine it with ritual, as odd as it might sound, it can bring me into communion with the lives of those we're celebrating. As I explored that thought, I realized how basic eating, baking and sharing food is, and how sometimes it really is that simple.
I woke still thinking of why I love the tradition of celebrating Epiphany. One of the things a tradition like this does for me is to remind me of the incarnate life of Jesus...the fact that God became human in Jesus. Celebrating a physical event that impacted Jesus (and all of us) connects me in a more tangible way to his earthly humanity and all that goes with it. Epiphany also makes me think about the times in my own life that I had specific plans (habits, ways of doing things etc.,) and heard the Holy Spirit urging me in a different direction (like the three 'wise men'). The older I get, the easier it is for me to stop, listen and trust that voice. (It's never been wrong.) Change can be hard, but when I listen, the change, not only in outward manifestation, but inner, has reset my path. toward love, faith and hope. I give thanks for this beautiful gift
Helen:
Epiphany invites us to cultivate insight, to set ourselves up for revelation from God. There have probably been times in history when people have had sudden jolting messages from God when they least expected them. But I think we’re much more likely to understand new truths if we regularly assume a listening stance, if we take the time frequently to quiet our minds and pray and open ourselves to God’s loving guidance. Historians tell us the Magi studied the stars and sky charts regularly, to try to discern the truths they conveyed, and what changes were taking place. If they hadn’t, they would not have noticed the appearance of the new star they decided to follow. They probably did not just look up one night and say, “Oh, I don’t remember seeing that one before.” No, they regularly searched the skies for cosmic guidance, for clues to the meaning of the earth’s turning. And when they noticed a change, they decided to pursue it.
Matthew’s is the only gospel that includes the account of the Magi. What were his reasons for telling this story? Certainly, to emphasize the reality of the Incarnation, I think. To make his own statement of the wonderful mystery of the presence of God among us in human form. But also I think Matthew wanted to wake us up to the idea that all kinds of people-- even outsiders, non-Jews from Persia, were longing for spiritual insight and were willing to travel around the world to find it. These astronomers wanted to meet the young child they had heard would lead all peoples, not by force, but by peace, unity, and goodwill. Still today, we are searching, we are longing, for the guiding star that will tell us how to end war, how to settle differences, how to live in peace, how to make sure resources are distributed fairly—in other words, for the wisdom of how to learn to love one another.
Our first reading, from the book called the Wisdom of Sirach, conveyed that Wisdom is God’s gift of self to us, and that God’s mandate to us is to make the presence of God/Wisdom known in the world. Beautifully portrayed as a feminine presence, she claims growth like tall trees and fragrant plants, having been welcomed by God’s people. Wisdom grows in receptive environments, Sirach tells us.
The writer of Ephesians advanced this idea of wisdom growing in those who welcome her, by joyfully relating the way non-Jewish people welcomed the teachings of Jesus. He claims as his mission bringing the Word to as many Gentile searchers as possible, acknowledging that people of all faiths were seeking spiritual wisdom, not just Jewish people. They were all receptive to Jesus’ unique teachings of building up love, of a new kind of society based on peaceful cooperation and radical inclusion of everyone.
So I think we are called to welcome some silence and listen for God’s movement in our lives. But then I think we are also called to be God’s epiphany to the world. Let us be living examples of insight, of new and contagious wisdom. Let us bear the knowledge of the value of peace and non-violence as the source of true power in the world. Let us preach true empathy, with words only if necessary. Let us be the stars that light the way to self-understanding, sharing of our gifts, and kindness in all things.
Feast of Epiphany, January 7, 2024
Lauren Basile and Helen Weber-McReynolds
Sirach 24: 1-5, 12-20; Ps. 96 (Gather #93); Eph 3: 2-11; Matt 2: 1-12
Lauren-
A few nights ago, my son's, both self proclaimed atheists, were at our dinner table. The partner of my oldest son, herself raised Catholic, commented on my Christmas t-shirt, which read, "Rejoice in the birth of a dark-skinned, undocumented immigrant", and has a colorful graphic of the three Wisemen leading their camels to the manger with Mary, Joseph and Jesus. I thanked her, then started to share an epiphany of my own, directly related to the message on the t-shirt, and to the census, purportedly ordered by Herod; what the reason for that story might actually have been. As soon as I said that the census might not have actually happened, and that the three Wisemen might not have actually existed, both son burst into conversation, vehemently defending the story. I was stunned into silence.
Neither of these two young men believe in the existence of God. They scoff at the idea of a virgin birth. But try to deny the existence of the three Wisemen, and they weren't having any of it! Wow! I watched both of their faces as they checked out their facts with each other, both looking at his brother for confirmation. When the discussion between my sons stopped, I merely said, "And that could be true too." After all, what is truth anyway?
But I haven't been able to get the whole thing out of my mind. Why were the three Wiseman so important to them? Why are they so important to me? Why and how do I honor their story? Were their reactions somehow related to the Epiphany rituals we'd kept as a family? How do those, and any other rituals we celebrate really connect us and create our truths? For me, those rituals often focus on food. I love the creative outlet that baking affords me. The way it can bring me into the present moment, blocking out everything else. When I combine it with ritual, as odd as it might sound, it can bring me into communion with the lives of those we're celebrating. As I explored that thought, I realized how basic eating, baking and sharing food is, and how sometimes it really is that simple.
I woke still thinking of why I love the tradition of celebrating Epiphany. One of the things a tradition like this does for me is to remind me of the incarnate life of Jesus...the fact that God became human in Jesus. Celebrating a physical event that impacted Jesus (and all of us) connects me in a more tangible way to his earthly humanity and all that goes with it. Epiphany also makes me think about the times in my own life that I had specific plans (habits, ways of doing things etc.,) and heard the Holy Spirit urging me in a different direction (like the three 'wise men'). The older I get, the easier it is for me to stop, listen and trust that voice. (It's never been wrong.) Change can be hard, but when I listen, the change, not only in outward manifestation, but inner, has reset my path. toward love, faith and hope. I give thanks for this beautiful gift
Helen:
Epiphany invites us to cultivate insight, to set ourselves up for revelation from God. There have probably been times in history when people have had sudden jolting messages from God when they least expected them. But I think we’re much more likely to understand new truths if we regularly assume a listening stance, if we take the time frequently to quiet our minds and pray and open ourselves to God’s loving guidance. Historians tell us the Magi studied the stars and sky charts regularly, to try to discern the truths they conveyed, and what changes were taking place. If they hadn’t, they would not have noticed the appearance of the new star they decided to follow. They probably did not just look up one night and say, “Oh, I don’t remember seeing that one before.” No, they regularly searched the skies for cosmic guidance, for clues to the meaning of the earth’s turning. And when they noticed a change, they decided to pursue it.
Matthew’s is the only gospel that includes the account of the Magi. What were his reasons for telling this story? Certainly, to emphasize the reality of the Incarnation, I think. To make his own statement of the wonderful mystery of the presence of God among us in human form. But also I think Matthew wanted to wake us up to the idea that all kinds of people-- even outsiders, non-Jews from Persia, were longing for spiritual insight and were willing to travel around the world to find it. These astronomers wanted to meet the young child they had heard would lead all peoples, not by force, but by peace, unity, and goodwill. Still today, we are searching, we are longing, for the guiding star that will tell us how to end war, how to settle differences, how to live in peace, how to make sure resources are distributed fairly—in other words, for the wisdom of how to learn to love one another.
Our first reading, from the book called the Wisdom of Sirach, conveyed that Wisdom is God’s gift of self to us, and that God’s mandate to us is to make the presence of God/Wisdom known in the world. Beautifully portrayed as a feminine presence, she claims growth like tall trees and fragrant plants, having been welcomed by God’s people. Wisdom grows in receptive environments, Sirach tells us.
The writer of Ephesians advanced this idea of wisdom growing in those who welcome her, by joyfully relating the way non-Jewish people welcomed the teachings of Jesus. He claims as his mission bringing the Word to as many Gentile searchers as possible, acknowledging that people of all faiths were seeking spiritual wisdom, not just Jewish people. They were all receptive to Jesus’ unique teachings of building up love, of a new kind of society based on peaceful cooperation and radical inclusion of everyone.
So I think we are called to welcome some silence and listen for God’s movement in our lives. But then I think we are also called to be God’s epiphany to the world. Let us be living examples of insight, of new and contagious wisdom. Let us bear the knowledge of the value of peace and non-violence as the source of true power in the world. Let us preach true empathy, with words only if necessary. Let us be the stars that light the way to self-understanding, sharing of our gifts, and kindness in all things.
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