The Feast of the Epiphany

Today is the Feast Day of the Epiphany, marking the start of the season within the Christian calendar that bears the same name (Christmas came to an end yesterday with Twelfth Night). A Holy Day celebrated continuously by the Church since at least the mid-fourth century, Epiphany holds great significance to the people of God. Originating in the East, this Feast Day there commemorates the Incarnation of Christ and is historically often celebrated with greater vigor than Christmas. Within the West, such cause for celebration becomes clear, for Westerners celebrate Epiphany specifically as Christ's manifestation to the Magi, who of course hailed from the East. Epiphany, then, is the day the Church celebrates Christ's coming extended to the Gentile, recognizing and praising God for salvation and redemption coming into all the world. What Christmas is for the Jew, Epiphany is for the Gentile.

As we meditate of God's working through and communing with the distinctively Jewish nation and then of His marvelous (and at the time quite risque) action of grafting us as Gentiles into His family through the Jewish Messiah, we especially today glorify God for such expansive grace. Praise Him heartily this day, all Gentiles who call upon His name for breath and salvation.