Epiphany of the Lord

by Fr. Jess Ty  |  01/07/2024  |  Weekly Reflection

Dear Family of God,

This weekend we will celebrate the Feast of the Epiphany of the Lord. What is Epiphany?

The word Epiphany (επιφάνεια) comes from two Greek words; epi, “on, upon”; and phaino, “to appear, to shine.” Therefore, the “Epiphany” refers to the divinity of Jesus “Shining upon” the earth. In other words, it is the manifestation of His Divine Nature. The Feast of Epiphany commemorates the coming of the Magi as the occasion for the first manifestation of Christ to the Gentiles in the Western Church.

In the Eastern Church, the Feast also commemorates the Baptism of Jesus by John the Baptist. The angels revealed Jesus to the shepherds, and the star revealed him to the Magi, who had already received hints of Him from Jewish Scriptures. Some thirty years later, God the Father revealed Jesus' identity to Israel at his baptism in the Jordan. “You are my beloved Son; with you I am well pleased.” (Lk. 3:22). Finally, Jesus revealed His Divinity at the wedding of Cana, by miraculously turning water into wine.

May these three events of the childhood of Jesus and of his early ministry: the visit of the magi, the baptism of the Lord, and the changing of water into wine at Cana, lead us to recognize him when He visits us in a person in need, in our prayer time or in adoration and especially in the Eucharist, the Mass that we celebrate.

Yours in Christ through Mary Immaculate,

Fr. Jess Ty