Fr. Lawrence Jagdfeld, O.F.M., Administrator
The Christmas Season draws to a close with the celebration of Solemnity of the Epiphany and the Feast of the Baptism of Jesus on Sunday and Monday. Whenever Christmas falls on a Sunday or Monday, the Christmas Season is forced to close rather precipitously.
The word "epiphany" means manifestation or revelation. In this case, we celebrate the fact that in the Incarnation, God engages in self-revelation completely. Throughout the Hebrew Scriptures, that revelation has been made in partial and fragmentary ways, bits and pieces, as it were. However, in the person of Jesus of Nazareth, that self-revelation is now complete. The Church celebrates these epiphanies in three separate events; namely, the visit of the magi, the baptism of Jesus in the Jordan river, and the occasion known as the wedding feast of Cana. In each of these events, Jesus is revealed as king, God, and fully human.
One of the hymns which we use on this feast does a wonderful job of describing the notion of epiphany. To get us into the epiphany spirit, I quote the text by Christopher Wordsworth and F. Bland Tucker. The third verse is particularly appropriate for those of us who serve God by bearing the cross of chronic illness or disability.
Songs of thankfulness and praise, Jesus, Lord, to thee we raise,
manifested by the star to the sages from afar;
Branch of royal David's stem in thy birth at Bethlehem;
anthems be to thee addrest, God in man made manifest.
Manifest at Jordan's stream, Prophet, Priest, and King supreme;
and at Cana, wedding guest, in thy Godhead manifest;
manifest in power divine, changing water into wine;
anthems be to thee addrest, God in man made manifest.
Manifest in making whole palsied limbs and fainting soul;
manifest in valiant fight, quelling all the devil's might;
manifest in gracious will, ever bringing good from ill;
anthems be to thee addrest, God in man made manifest.
Manifest on mountain height, shining in resplendent light,
where disciples filled with awe thy transfigured glory saw.
When from thence thou leddest them steadfast to Jerusalem,
cross and Easter day attest God in man made manifest.
Grant us grace to see thee, Lord, mirrored in thy holy word;
may we imitate thee now, and be pure, as pure art thou;
that we like to thee may be at thy great epiphany;
and may praise thee, ever blest, God in man made manifest.