Epiphany focus

We can see connections in this prophetic text to lots of other Scriptures, including the first creation story in Genesis and the first chapter in John’s Gospel, both of which emphasize the imposition of light into darkness, not only pushing the darkness back, but also calling things together and into being. But we can’t ignore that this comes up during the season of Epiphany. In particular, it’s hard to ignore that the author talks about two of the gifts the wise men are said to have brought to Jesus, also described in our Matthew text. This is not a coincidence, of course, as Matthew is making sure we think back to that Isaiah text. Remember that Matthew is particularly interested in making sure the audience sees Jesus’s arrival as the fulfilment of ancient prophecy about a coming Messiah.

 But in this Epiphany story, it’s easy to get hung up on the kings and their gifts. After all, they’re probably dressed really well, and the swag they’re giving to the Holy Family is impressive. But they aren’t what Epiphany is about, any more than the nations being drawn toward God’s light are the point of the Isaiah text. 

The point is the light that is drawing them all together. This notion of a single source causing everyone to stop in their tracks, to reassess what’s important in their lives, and to radically change course is remarkable. We rarely talk about it, but kings of different territories were not necessarily the best of buddies. Think of how often the different tribes and regions are in conflict throughout the Psalms alone. And in Isaiah, we’ve had two chapters replete with darkness, struggle, and conflict leading up to this. And now all of a sudden, light breaks through and everything changes.

 It’s all too easy to clean our hands of the Christmas business and move on to the next thing. I talked to a pastor just last week who noted that his church didn’t even recognize Epiphany. Come December 26, the decorations were packed up, loaded out, and we were back to normal until Lent.

 But we can’t go back to normal; that’s the whole point. The terms of our own individual lives and those we share in community have been, and are still being, rewritten. To revert to our old ways after the Christmas disruption is to deny the very meaning of the event itself. 

The point wasn’t the people in their Christmas best, nor was it the gifts, be they under a tree or in packs on the backs of camels. We have to stop, really look, and allow the awe of the big shift that has just taken place in the universe. Then we have figure out how we now become agents, or co-conspirators in facilitating that shift from now on.