The Rector’s Epiphany Message 2025

The twelfth day after Christmas brings us to the Epiphany of our Lord - the day of Christ’s "appearing." A cholate box arrangement of shepherds, donkeys, cows and sheep and wise men along with the Bethlehem star. A nativity scene with Mary, Joseph and Jesus at the Centre. Animals and Magi can be found in Matthew's gospel and the shepherds and angel choruses in Luke. The Church has always put these stories together. I don't have to remind you that cows dribble when they eat.

So in the Far East a huge star appears in the sky and leads some wise men to Bethlehem. A baby that has been born to an unmarried couple and we think East Enders has the monopoly on scandals. Finding the Christ Child, the wise men pay homage and offer him gold, incense, and myrrh. So what is going on here?

When we celebrate the feast of the Epiphany and remember the traditional story of the coming of the wise men, we are looking back to see how the Old Testament prophet Isaiah looked forward to this event. Isaiah’s prophecy is that the gentiles shall be attracted by Israel’s radiance and seek to participate in it. The prophecy from is fulfilled and symbolised in the visit of these wise men who are drawn by the brightness of God’s glory on Israel. So we need to explore what lessons this story contains for us today. It is God’s purpose to draw all nations from out of darkness into the light of his saving presence. For us as Christians Isaiah is saying two things. Firstly that the Church shall be radiant with a light derived from the moral and spiritual goodness which is Christ Jesus. Secondly the Church shall become a vast international community. Thus when we refer to the Epiphany of our Lord, we have a word that means a great deal more than the rather cosy commemoration of mysterious figures that presented Jesus with some exotic gifts. Gold was tribute to a king. Incense was the right of God. Myrrh told of one who was to die, and yet not to see corruption.

Epiphany means showing forth the glory of Jesus to the world. For epiphany is about the Advent of Christ which has already taken place and by which His presence and power appear in the saving light He has shed upon humanity. It is also about Christ’s return from heaven to earth that is to come. Epiphany is a time for recovering those visionary expectations that first inflamed our faith. The discipline of this season is the mystic revisiting of the riches of our faith. The gifts of gold, incense, and myrrh should mean to us now the offering of our wealth, worship, and the service of a self-denying life.

Father David