Epiphany: Is 60:1-6; Eph 3:2-3a, 5-6; Mt. 2:1-12

The Battle of Milvian Bridge was fought between Roman Emperors Constantine I and Maxentius in AD 312. On the evening of October 27, with the armies preparing for battle, Constantine had a vision. A most marvellous sign appeared to him from heaven. The famous sign in the sky was a cross of light, with the inscription, Conquer by this. At this sight he himself was struck with amazement, and his whole army also, which followed him on this expedition, and witnessed the miracle. Constantine delineated the sign on the shields of his soldiers, and proceeded to battle, and his troops stood to arms. Maxentius was defeated in the battle, and Constantine was acknowledged as emperor by the senate and people of Rome. Constantine’s victory brought relief to the Christians by ending persecution. 300 years before Constantine, God’s sign appeared on the sky as a luminous star. It announced the Good News that a Saviour was born to emancipate humanity from the clutches of evil. This sign was read by the simple shepherds and wise men. It led the wise men to Bethlehem.

Christmas, from the Christian perspective isn't truly over until January 6th or Epiphany, the day we traditionally celebrate the visit by the Wise Men. The Greek word Epiphany means appearance or manifestation.  The feast commemorates the coming of the Magi as the occasion for the first manifestation of Christ to the Gentiles in the Western Church.  In the Eastern Church, the feast also commemorates   the baptism of Christ, which we will celebrate next Sunday. The angels revealed Jesus to the shepherds, and the star revealed him to the Magi. (That is why our Christmas tree tops have either star or angel, leading shepherds or magi to the crib). Some thirty years later, God the Father revealed   Jesus' identity to Israel at his baptism in the Jordan.  In the synagogue at Nazareth, Jesus revealed himself as the promised Messiah, reading from the book of Isaiah’s prophecy that the Spirit of the Lord was upon him and he was anointed me to bring good news to the poor and so forth.   Finally, Jesus revealed himself as a miracle worker at the wedding of Cana, revealing his Divinity. These multiple revelations are all suggested by the Feast of the Epiphany. Actually the final epiphany is mentioned by Mark, when under the cross the Centurian exclaimed : truly this man was the son of God.   

"God so loved the world ..." says John 3:16. He didn’t love only one small corner of the world. He didn’t love only one little race, one tiny tribe in the world. God loved the world! He loved Jews and Gentiles alike. He loved a man and a woman named Joseph and Mary. He loved some shepherds. He loved some Wise Men living way off in the East someplace, nobody knows exactly where. God loved the world, even nasty, murderous, old King Herod, who tried to kill his only-begotten, just-born Son. "

 "God wants all people to be saved and to come to know the truth," Saint Paul wrote (1 Timothy 2:4). To that end, God is active in our lives, in all people’s lives, in a personal, intimate, and individual way.

God has a number of ways of working in our lives. One way in which he is active is through wonderful signs that he gives us to draw us to himself. Some signs are more majestic than others. Some signs are very hard to see, to be aware of. But in each life there are signs - signs that, when followed, lead to the only true God and Jesus Christ whom he sent.

Look at the sign that God worked in the lives of the Wise Men: The Star!. God didn’t send out cute little hospital cards with a picture of a wrinkled-prune-looking baby on it. God put a brilliant Star in the sky to announce the birth of his Son. It was a special Star that God created to announce the most wonderful news ever: the birth of his only Son, the Savior of the world.

There is a story about king of Balkh (now northern Afghanistan), named Ebrahim ibn Adam. Ebrahim was wealthy according to every earthly measure. At the same time, however, he sincerely and restlessly strove to be wealthy spiritually as well.

"One night the king was roused from sleep by a fearful stumping on the roof above his bed. Alarmed, he shouted: 'Who's there?' 'A friend,' came the reply from the roof. 'I've lost my camel.' Perturbed by such stupidity, Ebrahim screamed: 'You fool! Are you looking for a camel on the roof?' 'You fool!' the voice from the roof answered. 'Are you looking for God in silk clothing, and lying on a golden bed?' These simple words filled the king with such terror that he arose from his sleep to become a most remarkable saint.

The camel on the roof raises the Epiphany question, Where are we looking for God? This compelling question of life properly stands at the beginning of a new year, just as Where have we found God? If we haven’t found him, we may have reached king Herod’s palace. Then we need to change our course right now.

Though King Herod ordered the wise men to report to him where they found the newborn king, they were directed not to go back to Herod, but to go home another way. When a person comes to worship Christ, he/she experiences, or should experience, a change in life. Let us choose a better way of life, abstaining from proud and impure thoughts, evil habits and selfish behavior. May this feast of Epiphany lead us to the manger and worship him in spirit and truth.