Three Questions for Epiphany (homily)
The Epiphany
Isaiah 60.1-6; Matthew 2.1-12
Arise, shine; for your light has come, and the glory of the Lord has risen upon you. (Isaiah 60.1)
Lots of churches run holiday clubs for children during
the long summer holiday. This particular congregation had a different idea – why not have a children’s club during the last week of the Christmas school holidays? During those difficult days when folks have either got rather fed up with all the jollity or are struggling to get back into the work routine. Instead give the youngsters something different to look forward to, and the
adult helpers’ new tasks of preparation quite unlike the food and gifts of the recent home feast.
Of course, as the time approached people began to have cold feet: would adults have the time and energy to devote to it after all the bustle? Would children turn out after the delights of the new things they had so recently been given? Well, the helpers did have time and the children were eager to do something different. A great time was had by all. And what did they call
the club sessions? ‘Manifestations’ – literally epiphanies and that describes accurately just what happened. Kids and adults found themselves surprised and delighted by what they shared together.
Epiphany, in the Eastern Church at least, I think predates the celebration of Christmas. In our tradition it has been reduced to a marking of the coming of the magi to the manger, but in its origins it has a wider, all embracing quality it it. It mixes together both the birth of Jesus and the baptism of Jesus. It speaks of God being shown to the world, being
manifested amongst his people. God is born to us; Jesus the Saviour demonstrates
his oneness with us in sharing our baptism. God is revealed, made visible, made clear. This is a manifestation, a showing forth. It’s fitting therefore for us to think on Christ manifested to us.
Three Epiphany questions to ponder:
1. How did you first come to see Jesus?
2. How do you see Jesus now?
3. How do you show Jesus?
If I answer those questions for myself the intervention of other people would figure again and again.
I first came to see Jesus through the concern and care of others: the devotion of a good teacher who spent time with me; the encouragement of a Grandma who shared things with me; a colleague who saw worth in what I was doing when I couldn’t see it myself; a clergyman who trusted and respected my efforts, although I was a stranger to him; and friends who were ready to talk of deep things.
Where do I see Jesus now? Yes, the worship of his church and in the words of Scripture – but I have to admit that too often I miss him in both places. Then I’m so glad of the dedication of individuals who demonstrate in what they say and do the Jesus way of living in this world. Those who are not cowed by this world’s sorrows, hurts and disappointments, but live hopefully and expectantly, doing and being what they can do and be in his likeness. Strangely their emulation of him is often hidden from themselves – they would not claim to
be Christ-like. It is we who look on who see it.
And then there’s my part, your part, in showing Jesus to others. This is the scary one; the $64million question. It’s all too easy to be daunted by this. Out conviction must be that as Jesus has been manifested to us, he will be manifested to others. If our own stories of seeing him involves people one way or another showing us, then we must acknowledge that we ourselves can manifest him. Broken vessels we might be, but Christ still uses us; depends
on us. I remember Richard and Eleanor who lived in a street where many high ranking academics lived. They were the sole Christian worshippers at their end of the street. That fact was never an issue or an antagonism to their neighbours, but whenever it came up it was made plain that Richard and Eleanor were considered rather superstitious and naive for their faith.
Then a child was born to their immediate neighbours – two prominent academics for whom career choices meant their firstborn came rather late in life. The whole street rejoiced in this child. One early evening the proud parents knocked at Richard and Eleanor’s door with their baby. Ushered in, their question was a direct and simple one:‘We don’t know what it is you’ve got, and we don’t think we could ever have it for ourselves, but we want our daughter to have it. Please tell us how she can be baptised.’ They had shown Jesus in their living.
I’m not a Richard or Eleanor – to my knowledge. Too often I feel guilty about that. It’s a sadness that those we love don’t see in our living the quality and the difference that that couple saw in Richard and Eleanor. Yet we do ourselves a disservice. As I said, those in whom I see Jesus often don’t see Jesus in themselves. Might that not also be the case for you, for me? Who knows what influence for Christ we shed?
Show Christ as you may – neither dismayed by your apparent failures nor over-bearing in your earnestness. Rather live as one in whom Christ may live and leave the outcomes to him. Live in the ordinary way with Christ as your inspiration and let the showing, the manifestation, be his concern.
Your part, my part – to speak, to care, to pray, as one who has seen Christ and recognised him.
That is our offering and our testimony.
Lots of churches run holiday clubs for children during
the long summer holiday. This particular congregation had a different idea – why not have a children’s club during the last week of the Christmas school holidays? During those difficult days when folks have either got rather fed up with all the jollity or are struggling to get back into the work routine. Instead give the youngsters something different to look forward to, and the
adult helpers’ new tasks of preparation quite unlike the food and gifts of the recent home feast.
Of course, as the time approached people began to have cold feet: would adults have the time and energy to devote to it after all the bustle? Would children turn out after the delights of the new things they had so recently been given? Well, the helpers did have time and the children were eager to do something different. A great time was had by all. And what did they call
the club sessions? ‘Manifestations’ – literally epiphanies and that describes accurately just what happened. Kids and adults found themselves surprised and delighted by what they shared together.
Epiphany, in the Eastern Church at least, I think predates the celebration of Christmas. In our tradition it has been reduced to a marking of the coming of the magi to the manger, but in its origins it has a wider, all embracing quality it it. It mixes together both the birth of Jesus and the baptism of Jesus. It speaks of God being shown to the world, being
manifested amongst his people. God is born to us; Jesus the Saviour demonstrates
his oneness with us in sharing our baptism. God is revealed, made visible, made clear. This is a manifestation, a showing forth. It’s fitting therefore for us to think on Christ manifested to us.
Three Epiphany questions to ponder:
1. How did you first come to see Jesus?
2. How do you see Jesus now?
3. How do you show Jesus?
If I answer those questions for myself the intervention of other people would figure again and again.
I first came to see Jesus through the concern and care of others: the devotion of a good teacher who spent time with me; the encouragement of a Grandma who shared things with me; a colleague who saw worth in what I was doing when I couldn’t see it myself; a clergyman who trusted and respected my efforts, although I was a stranger to him; and friends who were ready to talk of deep things.
Where do I see Jesus now? Yes, the worship of his church and in the words of Scripture – but I have to admit that too often I miss him in both places. Then I’m so glad of the dedication of individuals who demonstrate in what they say and do the Jesus way of living in this world. Those who are not cowed by this world’s sorrows, hurts and disappointments, but live hopefully and expectantly, doing and being what they can do and be in his likeness. Strangely their emulation of him is often hidden from themselves – they would not claim to
be Christ-like. It is we who look on who see it.
And then there’s my part, your part, in showing Jesus to others. This is the scary one; the $64million question. It’s all too easy to be daunted by this. Out conviction must be that as Jesus has been manifested to us, he will be manifested to others. If our own stories of seeing him involves people one way or another showing us, then we must acknowledge that we ourselves can manifest him. Broken vessels we might be, but Christ still uses us; depends
on us. I remember Richard and Eleanor who lived in a street where many high ranking academics lived. They were the sole Christian worshippers at their end of the street. That fact was never an issue or an antagonism to their neighbours, but whenever it came up it was made plain that Richard and Eleanor were considered rather superstitious and naive for their faith.
Then a child was born to their immediate neighbours – two prominent academics for whom career choices meant their firstborn came rather late in life. The whole street rejoiced in this child. One early evening the proud parents knocked at Richard and Eleanor’s door with their baby. Ushered in, their question was a direct and simple one:‘We don’t know what it is you’ve got, and we don’t think we could ever have it for ourselves, but we want our daughter to have it. Please tell us how she can be baptised.’ They had shown Jesus in their living.
I’m not a Richard or Eleanor – to my knowledge. Too often I feel guilty about that. It’s a sadness that those we love don’t see in our living the quality and the difference that that couple saw in Richard and Eleanor. Yet we do ourselves a disservice. As I said, those in whom I see Jesus often don’t see Jesus in themselves. Might that not also be the case for you, for me? Who knows what influence for Christ we shed?
Show Christ as you may – neither dismayed by your apparent failures nor over-bearing in your earnestness. Rather live as one in whom Christ may live and leave the outcomes to him. Live in the ordinary way with Christ as your inspiration and let the showing, the manifestation, be his concern.
Your part, my part – to speak, to care, to pray, as one who has seen Christ and recognised him.
That is our offering and our testimony.
