What was your last epiphany? Was it frightening or energizing? Or perhaps a bit of each? The word ‘epiphany’ means “manifestation, realization, or disclosure.” Usually it comes as a sudden perception or striking event revealing the essential nature or meaning of something. Spiritually it is about gaining a new perspective, recognizing a new awareness dawning. It may mean viewing what has been with us all along, but now from a different perspective, with a new consciousness.
In our Christian calendar, January 6 is Epiphany. The joyous 12 days of Christmas come to a close and usher in this season of the continuation of new light and new truth being revealed in our lives day by day. Will we open these invitations?
Sometimes these revelations of the Spirit are welcome and wonderful events. At other times, the revelations are difficult, inviting or demanding us to change some of the ways we have been living. New growth, new understanding, new consciousness often signals the end of old patterns of being, challenging us to let go of “comfort zones” which we cling to even after they have finished their purpose in our lives and we are called to new ways of living, loving our neighbors, ourselves, and our God.
UCC minister Ruth Duck has written these words to a favorite Epiphany hymn:
“Arise, your light is come! The Spirit’s call obey;
Show forth the glory of your God which shines on you today.
Arise, your light is come! Fling wide the prison door;
Proclaim the captive’s liberty, Good tidings to the poor.
Arise, your light is come! All you in sorrow born;
Bind up the broken-hearted ones and comfort all who mourn.
Arise, your light is come! The mountains burst in song!
Rise up like eagles on the wing; God’s power will make us strong!”
May this Epiphany be a time when we allow ourselves to be present to the deepening mystery of our faith and the revelations of how to be present to others who have found “no room in the inn” this Christmas. May we accompany them through times of illness, depression, grief, poverty, and other realities that come upon us as human beings in our varieties of life’s circumstances. Our baptismal vows ask us to live out the reality that we are each “beloved creations of God”, and “one body with many members”, each an important part of the growth of the whole. No one is to be left out of the welcome at the table of God. God’s family expands.
God hovers over our times of chaos and apparent emptiness, ready to birth new possibilities in our lives and our world. Light dawns. Together we discover ways of treating each other and ourselves with compassion and gentleness, as we are reminded that God’s love is far more powerful than our greatest fears, that our spiritual truth reminds us that we are not alone in our search for meaning and hope. Together let us explore ways that God journeys with us no matter what our current conditions. May our thanks be always to God, fulfilling the promise to always bring light into our shadowed lives.