 The Epiphany of Our Lord
Name: The Epiphany of Our Lord
Date: 6 January
The word Epiphany means “manifestation,” and it has passed into general acceptance throughoutthe universal Church, from the fact that Jesus Christ manifested to the eyes of men His divinemission on this day first of all, when a miraculous star revealed His birth to the kings of the East.Thus was fulfilled the prophecy that “a star would arise from Jacob”. (Numbers 24:17) It wasunderstood by these Wise Men that this star was announcing the Saviour-King, destined to beborn of the Jews. And they, in spite of the difficulties and dangers of a long and tedious journeythrough deserts and mountains almost impassable, hastened at once to Bethlehem to adore Him.And there they offered Him mystical presents, as to the King of kings, to the God of heaven andearth, and to a Man whose human nature made Him mortal and subject to sufferings. The second manifestation commemorated by this feast day occurred when He came forth from thewaters of the Jordan after having received Baptism from the hands of Saint John, and the HolyGhost descended on Him in the visible form of a dove. A voice from heaven was heard, saying,“This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.” The third manifestation which the Church’s liturgy recalls to us is that of the divine power ofJesus when, at the marriage-feast of Cana, by the first of His miracles He changed water intowine. And at the sight of this prodigy His disciples believed in His Divinity. These three greatevents, concurring to the same end, the Church has wished to celebrate in one and the samefestival. |
