Dear Parishioners,

Today we celebrate the feast of the Epiphany. Normally, throughout the whole world we celebrate this day on January 6 (which is literally the 12th day of Christmas, like in the song). But, as a custom in America, we place this feast always on the Sunday after the Solemnity of Mary, Mother of God (January 1). The word “Epiphany” means “showing” or “manifestation.” Literally, it is about how God shows Himself, His glory and His divinity to the world.

The first event of the Epiphany is the obvious one: the visitation of the Magi, the wise men from the East. They follow a star which eventually leads them to Christ. But, first they encounter Herod and that makes him the first world leader to know that the savior has come into the world. However, he does not welcome this manifestation and tries to kill the Christ child forcing the holy family to flee to Egypt. When we love our sins more can God, we can be people who reject God’s promptings to turn away from sin. Instead, we need to be like the Magi who search for Christ and are led to worship Him.

The second event of the Epiphany is the Baptism of Our Lord. At His Baptism, Our Lord Jesus shows that He is the Son of God to John the Baptist. This was an unusual event because the baptism by John the Baptist was a sign of repentance and Jesus did not need to repent. He is already, and for all time, the second person of the Most Holy Trinity and therefore could never sin. But, He willingly allowed Himself to be baptized as an example of how to repent and to show that He was willing to take the sin of all humanity onto Himself. He symbolically turned away from sin in order to save humanity from their sins.

The third event of the Epiphany is the Wedding Feast at Cana. This is when Our Lord Jesus begins His earthly ministry. The feast ran out of wine which would have been an embarrassment to the wedding couple. Our Lady sends her son to solve this problem and so He makes water into wine. Though we can easily make jokes about Jesus wanting us to get drunk, that is not the point of this miracle. The bridegroom of the wedding feast is supposed to provide the wine, and Our Lord gives His own body and blood for heavenly food and to unite the world to God. By providing this wine to the guests at the wedding, He is showing that He is the true bridegroom that will wed fallen humanity. According to the book of Revelation, the whole culmination of creation is a great wedding feast and it is then that we will see God face to face. No longer in need of signs and symbols we will finally see the living God.

In all of our hearts, we long to see the living God. It pains us to be away from Him. Through worshiping Him in His sacraments we are preparing ourselves to see Him, and through faith we know that He is really present. Like St. Paul said, “What eye has not seen, and ear has not heard, and what has not entered the human heart, what God has prepared for those who love him.” (1 Corinthians 2:9) May we recognize Him when we see Him by loving Him in this life.

God bless!

Fr. Carter