Epiphany is from a Greek word, meaning to reveal or make known.  The season of Epiphany is the time when the Church focuses on the revelation of who Jesus is – Son of God and Son of Man.  On January 6, the Festival of Epiphany, we hear the reading of the visit of the wise men from Matthew 2:1-12.  It was sometime time following the birth of the Chris-Child that royal dignitaries arrived looking for “He who is born king of the Jews?  For we saw His star when it arose and have come to worship Him.” (2:2)  These wise men from the east bowed down in homage of the Infant-King and presented gifts associated with royalty, priesthood, and messianic associations acknowledging Jesus the  Christ.

For the magi, the stars provided an epiphany.  The God who dwells in unapproachable light, set the heavens ablaze creating a sign that announces from heaven above and to earth He comes.  It led them to a child, of flesh and blood in whom the hidden God revealed Himself in His only-begotten Son.  With them, we behold the epiphany of God!  In this holy Christ-Child God has come to us! 

The readings for the festival of the Epiphany and for the Sundays that follow point to this incarnate God revealed.  From the waters of the Jordan (Matt. 3:13-17) to the Mount of Transfiguration (Matt. 17:1-9), they point to Immanuel, God with us.

This Epiphany season, we again remember the lesson of the ancient Magi.  The heavens declare the handiwork of God and the star of Bethlehem proclaims His birth among us.  If they had searched for a glorious king, they would have missed Him altogether.  Instead, the Word of God led them and the Christmas star pointed to the place he lay, in Bethlehem of Judea, for this is what the prophet has written: “But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, though you are small among the clans of Judah, out of you will come for me one who will be ruler over Israel, whose origins are from of old, from ancient times.” (Micah 5:2).

Still today we search for God. Like before, we will not find Him in distant skies or in tracing the course that atoms fly. Instead, we go to the place His Word says He will be: In the waters of Holy Baptism, in His Holy Supper, and in His Word proclaimed.

We may find Him in other places, and the stars do proclaim His glory, but His mercy and love will not be found in them.

Water, bread and wine, and words that fly from mouths like yours and mine may not flash with heavenly glory. Nevertheless, they are where we will find our God. In them we have our epiphany: God is with us. He has saved us from our sin. We will live with Him forever.