The Epiphany of Our Lord - 6 January 2011


Isaiah 60:1-6
Psalm 72:1-7, 10-14
Ephesians 3:1-12
Saint Matthew 2:1-12




















BACKGROUND – The Epiphany of Our Lord, outside of Christmas and Easter, is one of the oldest festivals in the church year.  Like the first two festivals, which are related to Jewish festivals, Epiphany has a relationship to an Egyptian festival, which celebrated the winter solstice on 6 January (1996 BCE), and rejoiced in the fecundity of the Nile.  Later, as Christians began to celebrate the Birth of Christ on or around 25 December, in the East the feast on 6 January was centered on the Baptism of Jesus.  The word used in the East to describe the day was “Theophany” – a revelation of Jesus as the Son of God.  The connection with the Baptism of Jesus would thus be appropriate.  In the West, the day was associated with the visit of the Magi, and eventually the celebration of the Baptism of Jesus was transferred to the Sunday following the Epiphany. 

Isaiah 60:1-6

Arise, shine; for your light has come,
and the glory of the LORD has risen upon you.
For darkness shall cover the earth,
and thick darkness the peoples;
but the LORD will arise upon you,
and his glory will appear over you.
Nations shall come to your light,
and kings to the brightness of your dawn.
Lift up your eyes and look around;
they all gather together, they come to you;
your sons shall come from far away,
and your daughters shall be carried on their nurses' arms.
Then you shall see and be radiant;
your heart shall thrill and rejoice,
because the abundance of the sea shall be brought to you,
the wealth of the nations shall come to you.
A multitude of camels shall cover you,
the young camels of Midian and Ephah;
all those from Sheba shall come.
They shall bring gold and frankincense,
and shall proclaim the praise of the LORD.



In this remarkable text we have to look with this latter Isaiah’s eyes as he pictures Israel as a young woman who has climbed a hill to greet the morning sun.  The light (here a manifestation of the glory of God) transfigures her, and makes her a sign to all of the nations.  It is not only Israel and Judah that return in the guise of sons and daughters, but all the nations of the earth.  They bring the wealth of nation and sea with them, and in a gesture that will be useful to Saint Matthew, bring gold and frankincense.  Midian, Ephah, and Sheba all represent the descendants of Abraham and Sarah.  This is the prophetic vision of an Israel that is not isolated but rather in the greater vision of God’s suasion and rule.

Breaking open Isaiah:
  1. How has God’s glory been reflected in your life?
  2. Is it possible for you to look at others, and see God’s glory in them?
  3. What gifts do you bring?

Psalm 72:1-7, 10-14  Deus, judicum

Give the King your justice, O God, *
and your righteousness to the King's Son;

That he may rule your people righteously *
and the poor with justice;

That the mountains may bring prosperity to the people, *
and the little hills bring righteousness.

He shall defend the needy among the people; *
he shall rescue the poor and crush the oppressor.

He shall live as long as the sun and moon endure, *
from one generation to another.

He shall come down like rain upon the mown field, *
like showers that water the earth.

In his time shall the righteous flourish; *
there shall be abundance of peace till the moon shall be no more.

The kings of Tarshish and of the isles shall pay tribute, *
and the kings of Arabia and Saba offer gifts.

All kings shall bow down before him, *
and all the nations do him service.

For he shall deliver the poor who cries out in distress, *
and the oppressed who has no helper.

He shall have pity on the lowly and poor; *
he shall preserve the lives of the needy.

He shall redeem their lives from oppression and violence, *
and dear shall their blood be in his sight.



When reading biblical material one must always be expecting and be attuned to the presence of hyperbole.  This psalm is a perfect example of such.  It is a psalm that is ascribed to David, but also has themes related to Solomon as well.  It is a typical offering of praise to the monarch whose perfect justice is connected with a fecund and fruitful earth.  Also interesting is how the author takes the reader on a geographical tour of the Mediterranean, ranging from “the River” (Mesopotamia) to Tarshish (Spain) and down to Saba and Arabia.  This is the scope of the kingship that the psalm celebrates.  It is perfect for this day that honors the visit of the kings.

Breaking open Psalm 72
1.     What would an ideal rule be like?
2.     What about an ideal citizen?

Ephesians 3:1-12

This is the reason that I Paul am a prisoner for Christ Jesus for the sake of you Gentiles-- for surely you have already heard of the commission of God's grace that was given me for you, and how the mystery was made known to me by revelation, as I wrote above in a few words, a reading of which will enable you to perceive my understanding of the mystery of Christ. In former generations this mystery was not made known to humankind, as it has now been revealed to his holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit: that is, the Gentiles have become fellow heirs, members of the same body, and sharers in the promise in Christ Jesus through the gospel.

Of this gospel I have become a servant according to the gift of God's grace that was given me by the working of his power. Although I am the very least of all the saints, this grace was given to me to bring to the Gentiles the news of the boundless riches of Christ, and to make everyone see what is the plan of the mystery hidden for ages in God who created all things; so that through the church the wisdom of God in its rich variety might now be made known to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly places. This was in accordance with the eternal purpose that he has carried out in Christ Jesus our Lord, in whom we have access to God in boldness and confidence through faith in him.




An Epiphany is a manifestation, an opportunity to see the reality of divine promises.  Here Saint Paul celebrates that he is a forerunner of the good news of the manifestation of God’s primal plan of salvation.  He mentions that he is a prisoner, a term of distinction, for it represents the cost of his own particular discipleship, and the ubiquity of God’s promise and grace.  Paul contrasts his own status as “very least of all the saints” with the grace given him and to the Gentiles as well.  In a sense, Paul paints a re-creation in which God makes real the original intents for the cosmos and the humans that inhabit it.  This is God demonstrating and making real “the working of God’s power.”

Breaking open Ephesians:
  1. Paul thinks that his status as a prisoner speaks well of his efforts in proclaiming the Gospel of Christ.  How have you proclaimed Christ, and what have others felt about your boldness?
  2. How have you been the least of all the saint?
  3. How has God made you new?

Saint Matthew 2:1-12
In the time of King Herod, after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea, wise men from the East came to Jerusalem, asking, "Where is the child who has been born king of the Jews? For we observed his star at its rising, and have come to pay him homage." When King Herod heard this, he was frightened, and all Jerusalem with him; and calling together all the chief priests and scribes of the people, he inquired of them where the Messiah was to be born. They told him, "In Bethlehem of Judea; for so it has been written by the prophet:

`And you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah,
are by no means least among the rulers of Judah;
for from you shall come a ruler
who is to shepherd my people Israel.'"

Then Herod secretly called for the wise men and learned from them the exact time when the star had appeared. Then he sent them to Bethlehem, saying, "Go and search diligently for the child; and when you have found him, bring me word so that I may also go and pay him homage." When they had heard the king, they set out; and there, ahead of them, went the star that they had seen at its rising, until it stopped over the place where the child was. When they saw that the star had stopped, they were overwhelmed with joy. On entering the house, they saw the child with Mary his mother; and they knelt down and paid him homage. Then, opening their treasure chests, they offered him gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh. And having been warned in a dream not to return to Herod, they left for their own country by another road.



The King Herod the Great who is mentioned as a chronological tag in St. Matthew’s Gospel ruled from 37 – 4 BCE.  The visitors from the East (Mesopotamia) represent the knowledge that found its origin there – astrology and the study of the stars.  Even in Israel, the popular notion obtained that one was connected at birth to a star.  These Persians (?) were skilled in these studies, and may have been Zoroastrian priests as well.  Already Matthew signals his bias toward a revelation to the Gentiles.  An allusion to Numbers 24:17 (“A star shall advance from Jacob, and a staff shall rise from Israel…”) also allows Matthew to make claims about the Christ-Child as the messianic king that has long been promised by the prophets.  Like Joseph, the Magi also receive a dream, thwarting the evil intents of the king who begins this reading.

Breaking open the Gospel:
  1. How were you guided to the Christ Child?
  2. What gifts have you offered?
  3. What in your life places you outside the proper society of the Church?

After breaking open the Word, you might want to pray the Collect for Sunday:

O God, by the leading of a star you manifested your only Son to the peoples of the earth: Lead us, who know you now by faith, to your presence, where we may see your glory face to face; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.

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