What is Epiphany?

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

When was the last time you had an epiphany? I mean one of those brilliant insights or moments of clarity that appear out of nowhere, and can give you a whole new perspective on things. I feel like I have them fairly regularly, and I suspect you do too. In fact epiphanies occur often enough that, no matter how exciting and important they might be, we don’t see them as particularly unusual or mysterious.

Our English word “epiphany” comes from the Greek word epiphaneia, which means “an appearance, or manifestation.” Epiphaneia is found only a few times in the New Testament: in the second letter to the Thessalonians, in both letters to Timothy, and in the letter to Titus. And in all of these cases epiphaneia refers explicitly to events involving Jesus Christ—his incarnation, his resurrection, and his coming again. In other words, the writers of these texts didn't use epiphaneia like we do, to describe any old flash of inspiration. An epiphaneia for them was the physical manifestation of something unique and radical—the appearance of Jesus as Lord, Savior and Judge.

So there’s a pretty big difference between our understanding of the word, and how it’s used in Scripture. And I wonder what would happen if we were able to rediscover the sense in which Jesus’ first followers understood the Epiphany? How would that impact the life of the Church, and the world?

You might think that, on the Feast of the Epiphany, we would read at least one of the passages that actually uses the word “epiphany.” But interestingly, we don’t. I think part of the reason is that, over the centuries, the Church has attached several meanings to this holy day. Depending on the time or place, Epiphany celebrations have emphasized Jesus' baptism in the Jordan, or his miracle at the wedding in Cana, or the visitation of the three wise men. But of course the common thread in all of these events is the revelation of Jesus’ divinity—its manifestation in the world—which, as his followers told and re-told his story, they began to discern in more and more ways.

The Apostles also tried to make sense of what they experienced in Jesus by re-reading the Hebrew Scriptures—what we call the Old Testament—in the light of that experience. And the writings of the prophet Isaiah, perhaps more than anywhere else, helped them to understand not just the importance of the Epiphany, but its deeper meaning. In our passage from today, Isaiah announces the appearance of a brilliant light upon the darkness, which draws all of creation—oceans, animals, riches, kings—to itself. Nations—that is, people of every different ethnicity and religion—will no longer be able to resist the radiance of the one on whom the Lord’s glory shines, and they will stream to it from every corner of creation.

This is a major theme in Isaiah—that YHWH is not just Israel’s god, one who exists in competition with other nations’ gods. The God who speaks through Isaiah is the one and only true God, whose justice and mercy extends beyond his chosen people, to include everyone. And Isaiah makes it clear that this is in fact God’s deepest desire—to bring all that is together into one loving family.

Paul takes up Isaiah’s vision and proclaims its fulfillment in the life, death and resurrection of Jesus. Through Paul, the good news of God’s grace has been made available to the Gentiles—the same people Isaiah refers to as the Nations. In other words, through Christ, God’s family has grown beyond Israel to include everyone. All have inherited the same promise, all are now members of one and the same body.

And Paul has made this reality known at great cost to himself, suffering resistance from spiritual authorities and imprisonment from earthly rulers—those like Herod, who recognize in Jesus the fulfillment of Isaiah’s prophecy. The wise men’s coming terrifies Herod because he knows the king they seek by starlight is not the same kind of king as he or his patron Caesar, rulers who exploit and enslave God’s children. In Bethlehem awaits the Lord of Glory, whose radiance will expose and judge all human kings.

Clearly we are now a very long way from our more familiar understanding of epiphany as a flash of insight, moving through our minds. The Apostles’ understanding of Epiphany was not local, personal, and psychological—it was global, cosmic and tangible. And in our secular age it takes quite a bit of effort for us to get our heads around that, to make this day something more than an occasion to revisit a few highlights from Jesus’ career. The Epiphany should shock and transform us, because of the reality it announces—that the one true God, Israel’s God, was revealed in the passion and resurrection of Jesus Christ to be the Savior of the whole world—and its only hope.

Does that sound a little too exclusive for your taste? What about respect and tolerance for other religions? Isn’t it arrogant to claim that our way is the way? As good liberals, even if we believe that there’s one God, the Father, and one Lord Jesus Christ, we also think it’s wrong to insist it’s true for everyone. And obviously there’s much to admire in this view.

The problem, however, is that the Bible reveals a God whose reign is neither liberal nor democratic. Jesus was not elected to office, healing and saving the world were not campaign promises. The Church is not like a political party or service organization we affiliate with and leave when it disappoints us. In baptism we’re indissolubly bound to God, we die to the world, we die to ourselves, in order to be reborn in Christ. We surrender to God unconditionally because we trust God’s will for us more than our own.

I also worry that by insisting on a liberal Jesus, and a democratic kingdom of heaven, we betray the truly vulnerable and marginalized. Can they really afford the luxury of shopping around for the faith tradition that best aligns with their values? I would imagine what’s most important to the poor and powerless is not whether the Sermon on the Mount or the words of Psalm 72 are inspiring or not. What’s most important is whether they’re true. To be able to reserve judgment, and appreciate the many different ways of interpreting the incarnation, resurrection and second coming of Jesus is a privilege, one that I imagine someone who is desperate for hope simply doesn’t have.

That’s why I want to rediscover and embrace this ancient understanding of Epiphany. I believe to do that is to open ourselves to experience the deeper inclusivity and solidarity that Jesus invites us into. To live in the blinding light of God’s grace, that draws all things to itself; that reaches out across all of creation, leading us to one another like a star, through the darkness of sin and death, and into the place prepared for all of us, from the foundation of the world.

All Saints’ Episcopal Church, Brooklyn, NY
The Feast of the Epiphany, January 6th, 2025