January 3, 2007

“Don’t Forget Epiphany”

We are in the midst of the Twelve Days of Christmas, but it is hard to tell that in the stores and malls. Our Christmas culture here in the United States seems to start earlier and earlier each year, but it ends almost immediately after December 25th. Most of my neighbors have already taken down their outdoor decorations – although who can blame them for doing that while we have such nice weather?

What it is about Christmas that we are in such a hurry for it to arrive, but then we are in such a rush to get it over with? Whatever happened to the Twelve Days of Christmas, to Christmastide, and to a longer celebration?

Epiphany comes along on January 6th to remind us that Christmas is not complete without the Epiphany, the Aha, and the sharing of the Good News to the whole world. Epiphany is celebrated in some countries as the real time of gift-giving, because Epiphany refers to the tradition of the Wise Men coming and bringing their gifts to the Christ child. The fact that the Wise Men were Gentiles, outsiders from the east, also reminds us that the Gift of Christ was not just for the Jews, it is for the salvation of the whole world. The fact that they found the Christ child in a surprising place (a barn and not a palace) reminds us that Christ is still found among the poor, the least, the lost, and the desperate. As the Christmas carol “O Little Town of Bethlehem” says it so well: “Where meek souls will receive him still, the dear Christ enters in.”

I had one professor in seminary who suggested that we Christians should give December 25th back to the world. After all, it was a pagan festival of the return of the sun after the winter equinox which was claimed by Christians to celebrate the birth of Christ as the Light of the world. He further suggested that we should celebrate the coming of Christ on January 6th, Epiphany Day, as a way of having an alternative celebration to the commercialism of our culture. I doubt that we are going to give up December 25th, but Epiphany is a reminder that for Christians the whole Christmas celebration is about more than just the cultural styles and habits. Epiphany invites us to look for those “Aha” moments when we find the presence of Christ in unexpected ways and in unexpected places.

Christmas is not over yet, so look for Christ’s presence in your life this week.

from Bishop Michael J. Coyner

Indiana Area of the United Methodist Church
"Making a Difference ... in Indiana
and around the world"

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