January 6 marks the Day of Epiphany

How quickly we let the excitement of Christmas fade. Not too many days ago, we shared gifts, rested, and reflected upon that powerful moment when the baby Jesus was born.

Fast-forward to today and most of us are busily shifting out of the holiday season and into work.

Except, not every country out there is done with the festivities. In fact, in many countries, the party is far from over. The nativity scene of Dec. 25 was only the start of 12 days that culminate in a holiday called Epiphany on Jan. 6.

What is Epiphany?

The word epiphany means ‘revealed’ and that is exactly what the holiday celebrates, when God made Himself known to the world. For countries in the West that means celebrating the arrival of the wise men who came from a great distance to discover the good news of Christ.

Countries in the East put the emphasis more on the baptism of Jesus in the Jordan River, since at that moment all three members of the Trinity were represented at once. In either case, the central focus is on God’s desire to be known.

Not all of the celebrations would look familiar to us.

In Bulgaria, a priest throws a wooden cross into water and young men race to retrieve it. Other details hit closer to home - in Latin American countries the children do not leave milk and cookies, but they do leave fresh grass and hay for the wise men to give their donkeys.

Does it encourage you to know the Christmas story is celebrated in such rich and diverse ways throughout the world?

The differences in celebrations remind us to take a second look at the seemingly familiar story. For example, perhaps we put too little focus on the role of the wise men. They are more than pretty decoration in the picturesque manger scene.

Though they were scholars from outside the Israelite setting, God used their scientific interest in astrology to guide them into the story. God will go to any length to draw someone into a relationship with Him, even those we would not automatically think to include.

Which leaves us with a challenge - and an opportunity. Have we put the Christmas story into a box and placed it back onto the shelf? Or, are we ready for Epiphany to lead us into new and unexpected places?
May we never get used to the incredible message of God’s love: “but it has now been revealed through the appearing of our Savior Christ Jesus, who abolished death and brought life and immortality to light through the gospel.” (2 Timothy 1:10 NRSV).

I pray that you and your family have an incredible year in 2014 and that these stories of Epiphany cause you to take a second and third look at the ways God has made Himself known. Blessings.