Epiphany Reflection – January 6th, 2026

The Readings for the Epiphany are, Isaiah 60:1- 6; Psalm 72:1-7, 10-14; Ephesians 3:1-12; Matthew 2:1-12

The season of Epiphany starts a few days from now. Epiphany meaning, Manifestation, or revealing.  Also it is often referred to as the season of light, that which shines a light on the truth of God’s word, his presence with us in the world. “Arise Shine, for your light as come, and the glory of the Lord has risen upon you.” (Is 60:1). 

We perhaps associate Epiphany mostly with the coming of the wisemen, or the Magi, in the Christmas story, seeking to find Jesus.  The wisemen seeing something significant in the stars, interpreting it to mean that a child had been born King of the Jews, they set out following the star from a long distance, some foreign land, to where he was.  They however made a stop on the way at Herod’s Palace, the then King of Jerusalem.  Herod so frightened by their visit, likely because of the threat he thought this child would be to his kingdom, or possibly that an uprising to dethrone him had already started without his knowing it.  Herod sending for the scribes and chief priests to find out what the scriptures told them about where the child was to be born.  Finding out that it was in Bethlehem of Judea, he sends the wisemen on their way, telling them to return to him when they find the child, for he too wanted to pay him homage.  Herod’s intent off course was not to pay homage at all, but in order that he might get rid of the child.  As we know a few days later, Herod would order for all male children under the age of 2 in and around Bethlehem to be killed, because he felt so threatened by the child.  Even though the child couldn’t possibly be a threat to him or his kingdom for some time to come. 

The wisemen however continuing on their journey following the star, when it stopped where the child was, they were filled with Joy.  Possibly they were joyful because they had finally reached their destination, they had found the child, but more likely because of what was revealed to them in that moment; that the child they had been searching for was not only born King of the Jews, but likely they knew he was King for them too, and for all the nations of the world.  The Magi/Wisemen though the scriptures say they came from the East, where exactly that was we don’t know; so we can surmise here in the Christmas story, they are meant to represent all those who come to him, seeking, searching. Sometimes for they know not what, but when they do come to him, as the Magi did, they find great Joy, because of the revelation of knowing Christ. Christ had come for all peoples of the world, and he still is so today.   When we come to him, in him we find peace, hope and joy, even in the most trying times. 

‘The Magi seeing the child and his mother Mary, they knelt down and paid him homage.  To ‘pay homage’ meaning they worshipped him.  Opening their treasure chests, they offered him gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh’. While these gifts are often said to have their own meaning associated with them. What it does mean is that they honoured him as they would a King.  They knew what they had read in the stars was the revelation of what God had revealed to the prophets from the earliest times, and they too, invited to come, were a part of bringing it to fulfilment. “A multitude of Camels shall come to you, the young camels of Midian and Ephah; all those from Sheba shall come. They shall bring Gold and frankincense, and shall proclaim the praise of the Lord.” (Is 5:6).

The Magi’s role in the Christmas story is not about any particular people, place, or nation, but about all the ways and means God uses to bring his purpose into fulfilment, and our being a part of it with him. When we heed not only the signs that he gives as he did to the Wisemen through the Star, but also through his word, and the promises that he gives.

 ‘Having been warned in a dream not to return to Herod, the Wisemen, left for their own country by another road.” (Matt 2:12).  To go by another road, may simply mean taking a different route back perhaps to avoid meeting up with Herod along the way, but more likely it speaks to the different direction their lives would take having found Jesus.  How different might your life be, or the world would be, if it was God’s truth, his guidance we took in life, instead of following our own way, or that of some others. Might we perhaps follow, or go in an entirely different direction than we had intended or been going.

Epiphany meaning ‘manifestation’, ‘revealing’, as God’s revelation to the Wisemen, leading them on the way by a star to where the child was, may we always be open to his revealing to us in the world today, seeking to follow his truths, holding to his promises, that we might live more fully in his way, in the everyday of our lives. Epiphany, God in the midst of us. 

Amen, God Bless.