The Season of Epiphany

Epiphany is celebrated 12 days after Christmas, on 6th January each year, or on the Sunday nearest. The word epiphany means a sudden realisation of something, especially something that is important. It comes from the Greek word epiphaneia, which means “manifestation” or “striking appearance”.

Epiphany commemorates the visit of the Three Wise Men to the baby Jesus, marking the revelation of Jesus to non-Jews (gentiles). From this we are reminded that Jesus is the Son of God, of the ways in which God reveals his truth to us and how we should respond to this revelation. Perhaps we could look back to the Advent candles representing love, joy, peace and hope and especially the white candle representing the birth of Jesus Christ, who himself taught those core themes of hope, peace, joy and love through his life, ministry, death and resurrection.