Epiphany

Epiphany occurs as a part of the Church’s celebration of the Christmas season. During this solemnity, we contemplate the three magi coming to Jesus and, by extension, the manifestation of God in human form to the Gentiles. The concept of Epiphany, however, has a broader meaning, and there is perhaps more that we can take from this feast.

The Greek word ἐπιφάνεια (epiphaneia) literally means “an appearance,” and the Epiphany of God is foretold in the Book of Isaiah 60:1 (NABRE): “Rise! Shine, for your light has come, the glory of the Lord has dawned upon you.” When we celebrate Epiphany, we’re celebrating at its root the manifestation of God as a human being. The spirit of the solemnity very much continues the mystery of Christmas. This is the season in which we celebrate God’s appearance before us in an unprecedented and unexpected way, as reflected in the reading for the Mass from the Gospel According to Matthew 2:1–12 (NABRE).

What is the most surprising thing about the way that God chose to appear to the magi? How might God have been expected to appear? Why do you think it is that God decided to appear in the way that he did? How many ways can you name in which God continues to appear in our world?

related topics: behold; Happy Christmaslight

you also may like our study of Saul, David & Solomon
The United Kingdom of Israel: Saul, David & Solomon Foreshadow Christ the King, a 28-lesson Catholic Bible study with an imprimatur, provides an in-depth look at the First and Second Books of Samuel to learn how the lives of the monarchs Saul, David, and Solomon point ahead to the kingdom of heaven. The unified reign of King David is seen as a foreshadowing or type of the unity that is one of the four marks of the Church—the kingdom of God—established by Jesus Christ. Click on the book’s cover to view a sample lesson.

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