January 2009

The Feast of the Epiphany or Theophany

 Gets its name from the Greek word, Epiphany, meaning to “to show” or “to manifest.”  This Christian feast celebrates the manifestation or revelation of Jesus’ divine nature.  In the Western Church, (Anglicans, Roman Catholics, Lutherans and other Liturgical Protestants) the celebration focuses on the visit of the Magi or Wisemen to the Infant Jesus to bring him gifts that signify his unique nature.  The left hand image below is a highly standardized post-12th century depiction of the Biblical Magi by Vicente Gil.  In it, Balthasar, the youngest Wiseman, bears frankincense and represents Africa. To the left stands Caspar, middle-aged, bearing gold and representing Asia. On his knees is Melchior, oldest, offering myrrh and representing Europe.  Only three continents are represented because the other four were unknown to the Europeans at this time.  For the Western Church, this scene represents the manifestation of Jesus as God to the Gentiles (persons who are not Jewish).  The diversity of the Wisemen, in age, race, culture, and geography, indicates that the God of the Jews is the God of All.  Their gifts indicate that this child, born to a Jewish couple in modest circumstances, is unique.  He is a King, of the royal lineage of David, as signified by the gift of gold.  He is fully human, subject to pain and death, as shown by the gift of myrhh.  And he is fully God, worthy of praise and adoration, as represented by the gift of frankincense.

In the Eastern Churches (Orthodox, Coptic, etc.) the feast is known as the Theophany.  Theophany means the “manifestation of God.”  In these churches, the scripture narrative that is emphasized is the Baptism of Jesus.  Pere Garcia de Benavarri’s painting, the right image below , illustrates the concept of the Theophany or manifestation of Jesus’ divinity in the narrative of his baptism.  In this illustration, the artist follows the gospel narrative and depicts Jesus being baptized by his cousin John in the Jordan River.  Simultaneously, the Holy Spirit descends in the form of a dove upon Jesus; while God, the Father, announces that “This (Jesus) is my beloved Son in whom I am well pleased.” (MT 3:17).  For Trinitarian Christians, this Theophany not only reveals Jesus’ divine nature, it also reveals the Trinitarian Nature of God.  It is after the Theophany of Jesus in his Baptism that he begins his public ministry of preaching. 

 As we reflect upon the Epiphany, let us consider what gifts we offer to Jesus.  Shall we offer the gold of our lives?  That is, do we make Jesus the King of our life, seeking his will instead of our own?  Do we recognize that all that we are or hope to be, is a gift from God?  Shall we offer Jesus the bitter myrhh of our lives?  That is, do we let go of our griefs, grudges, and guilts; exchanging them for the “peace which passes understanding?”   Shall we offer incense to Jesus?  That is, do we worship and pray to him instead of worshipping ourselves, our ambitions and our desires?