The Glorious Epiphany of The Lord
By Fr. George El-Andari
|
Epiphany is a Greek word (ἐπιφάνεια, epipháneia); it means manifestation or appearance. It is derived from the verb φαίνειν, phainein, meaning "to appear."
There are writings about it dating to 200 A.D. However, the earliest reference to Epiphany as a Christian feast was in 361 A.D., by Ammianus Marcellinus. At the time, it was celebrated as a double feast of the baptism and birth of our Lord. It is also said by many early Church Fathers that Jesus was at the age of 30 when it took place, though not necessarily exactly that age. Today, the Maronite Rite and many Eastern Churches still celebrate the feast of the Epiphany of Jesus Christ on January 6, focusing on the Baptism of Jesus by St. John the Baptist. |
All four apostles, Matthew, Mark, Luke and John, reveal the Baptism of Jesus by St. John the Baptist as the first manifestation of the Holy Trinity to mankind. From the Angel’s appearance to Mary until this event, everything was God acting in preparation for this moment. This moment––the epiphany at Jesus’ baptism––indicates the starting point of the road each of us must also take for the sake of our salvation. Baptism is a pivotal launch point in our Christian life; it is initiated by the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit present, paving the road of our salvation. God promised to send His Son, a King, to save His chosen people. Epiphany is a new start where we are given the grace to have original sin wiped clean by baptism, starting with Jesus, the promised Son of God who became man. Christ was not born with original sin; He did not need baptism, since He is the Son of God and was conceived the by the Holy Spirit. However, He is showing us the way, by example, as a man. He said, “I am the Way” (Jn 4:16). The Holy Spirit is there to witness and carry on through the end of time. Hence, Epiphany is not just a time of cleansing of the soul but also the start of the road to salvation that we should celebrate with the attention it deserves. Since the Holy Trinity showed us how important this is, we should, at the very least, center our life around it and use it for our sake.
Our Call
John the Baptist is the servant of God; we saw his reaction in the womb when Mary visited Elizabeth and now when baptizing Jesus, his Lord, God and savior, in the presence of the Father and the Holy Spirit. The other lesson for us to take home is to know that we are called to be like John the Baptist––to be obedient to God’s will and to do what the Holy Spirit guides us to do, even when we do not understand it or why we’re doing it. “Epiphany/Theophany” comes from the Greek word "Theophania," which means "appearance of God" or "manifestation of God." These are two very important definitions that we may think are the same. However, if we take a closer look, we will find that “appearance” is meant to say God appeared. In this case, just as at every baptism since then, God appears as the Trinity and the Holy Spirit remains to guide us. “Manifestation,” on the other hand, means to take something and spread it around to many and into many, so it is shared everywhere. The Feast of Epiphany celebrates both, and we are blessed by God if we accept Him and spread His Word.
Jesus also knew our weaknesses, just as He knew St. Peter’s weaknesses on so many occasions. Yet, He made him the Rock upon which He would build His Church. God knew we are weak, just as Adam and Eve were, so He gave us the means and the tools to repent in good faith. He left us representatives we repent through so we may be saved. God’s love is limitless to us. All He asks us to do is to keep trying every day and every moment to be perfect as He is. Jesus showed us the way; He said to His Father, “let it be as you wish.” Peter showed us how weak he was and how he always came back to God enthusiastically, even when he was ashamed in his heart of what he did.
Keeping this in mind, the blessing of the holy water that takes place at the Epiphany signifies Jesus's baptism in the Jordan River. According to early Church fathers such as St. John Chrysostom, the celebration of this feast started before Christmas was celebrated. In the teaching of the Church, only holy Baptism can liberate us from the bondage of Original Sin, and the holy water possesses the power that casts away evil. “I am the LORD—oracle of the Lord GOD—when through you I show my holiness before their very eyes. I will take you away from among the nations, gather you from all the lands, and bring you back to your own soil. I will sprinkle clean water over you to make you clean; from all your impurities and from all your idols I will cleanse you. I will give you a new heart, and a new spirit I will put within you.” (Ez. 36:23-26).
God fulfilled his promises; now it is up to us to fulfill ours by using the means He gave us to stay clean, following in His footsteps.
Let us ask ourselves:
Are we doing our part for the sake of the salvation of our souls?
Do we think about being like John the Baptist, by rejoicing in the presence of our Lord, or by doing what the Holy Spirit guides us to do, even when we do not understand it?
In Luke 3, God said, “You are my Son, the Beloved; with you I am well pleased.” Are we doing everything we can to please God, as Jesus the Son did? Let’s remember we are sons and daughters of God as well. Do we think, He will say “with you I am well pleased”?
Are we manifesting God’s Word after His appearance to us and the cleansing of our souls?
After God removed the heart of stone from our flesh and gave us a heart of flesh, and after He put His spirit within us, are we walking in His statutes, observing His ordinances, and keeping them?
Let us reflect and have a fresh start every day we are granted as a blessing from God.
Our Call
John the Baptist is the servant of God; we saw his reaction in the womb when Mary visited Elizabeth and now when baptizing Jesus, his Lord, God and savior, in the presence of the Father and the Holy Spirit. The other lesson for us to take home is to know that we are called to be like John the Baptist––to be obedient to God’s will and to do what the Holy Spirit guides us to do, even when we do not understand it or why we’re doing it. “Epiphany/Theophany” comes from the Greek word "Theophania," which means "appearance of God" or "manifestation of God." These are two very important definitions that we may think are the same. However, if we take a closer look, we will find that “appearance” is meant to say God appeared. In this case, just as at every baptism since then, God appears as the Trinity and the Holy Spirit remains to guide us. “Manifestation,” on the other hand, means to take something and spread it around to many and into many, so it is shared everywhere. The Feast of Epiphany celebrates both, and we are blessed by God if we accept Him and spread His Word.
Jesus also knew our weaknesses, just as He knew St. Peter’s weaknesses on so many occasions. Yet, He made him the Rock upon which He would build His Church. God knew we are weak, just as Adam and Eve were, so He gave us the means and the tools to repent in good faith. He left us representatives we repent through so we may be saved. God’s love is limitless to us. All He asks us to do is to keep trying every day and every moment to be perfect as He is. Jesus showed us the way; He said to His Father, “let it be as you wish.” Peter showed us how weak he was and how he always came back to God enthusiastically, even when he was ashamed in his heart of what he did.
Keeping this in mind, the blessing of the holy water that takes place at the Epiphany signifies Jesus's baptism in the Jordan River. According to early Church fathers such as St. John Chrysostom, the celebration of this feast started before Christmas was celebrated. In the teaching of the Church, only holy Baptism can liberate us from the bondage of Original Sin, and the holy water possesses the power that casts away evil. “I am the LORD—oracle of the Lord GOD—when through you I show my holiness before their very eyes. I will take you away from among the nations, gather you from all the lands, and bring you back to your own soil. I will sprinkle clean water over you to make you clean; from all your impurities and from all your idols I will cleanse you. I will give you a new heart, and a new spirit I will put within you.” (Ez. 36:23-26).
God fulfilled his promises; now it is up to us to fulfill ours by using the means He gave us to stay clean, following in His footsteps.
Let us ask ourselves:
Are we doing our part for the sake of the salvation of our souls?
Do we think about being like John the Baptist, by rejoicing in the presence of our Lord, or by doing what the Holy Spirit guides us to do, even when we do not understand it?
In Luke 3, God said, “You are my Son, the Beloved; with you I am well pleased.” Are we doing everything we can to please God, as Jesus the Son did? Let’s remember we are sons and daughters of God as well. Do we think, He will say “with you I am well pleased”?
Are we manifesting God’s Word after His appearance to us and the cleansing of our souls?
After God removed the heart of stone from our flesh and gave us a heart of flesh, and after He put His spirit within us, are we walking in His statutes, observing His ordinances, and keeping them?
Let us reflect and have a fresh start every day we are granted as a blessing from God.
