Today marks the beginning of a new season on the church calendar: Epiphany. It is the season Christians celebrate the revelation of the Savior, the light of the world. I find it sometimes disheartening that for many in the Christian Reformed tradition we have to ask our children about which church season we are currently in. Many CRC’s have a Children in Worship ministry where the young children leave during part of the worship service for a time of age-approriate worship. They celebrate the church calendar more than the rest of the church.
As part of my own devotional life, I’ve been practicing a discipline known as the Daily Office which happens to follow quite closely to the chruch calendar. So this year I’m more attentive to these seasons which is why I am choosing to write a blog entry on this season–Epiphany–knowing that some of my friends and fellow church members might be as unaware as I have been of the church calendar.
Ephinay begins on January 6 and it is marked by several events and themes in the life of Jesus including the visit of the Magi, the baptism of Jesus, and the wedding feast at Cana (the beginning fo Jesus’ ministry through signs and wonders). Each event helps us see just a little fuller picture of who Jesus was…and is. This season (which some only celebrate for one week and call the rest of the season ordinary time) focuses on the minstiry of Jesus: the calling of the disciples, the teachings of Christ, his miracles, and finally his transfiguration.
Along the journey of this season we catch glimpses of the uniqueness of Christ. We see that Jesus was more than simply a prophet or mere teacher–he is the Son of God…the Messiah!
With my mind wrapped around the missio dei (or, the mission of God) and related themes in my doctoral studies, I can’t help but catch the unmistakable missional bent to this season. Jesus, the light of the world, calls us to let our light shine before others (Matthew 5:14-16). The Magi followed a star to find him some 2000 years ago signaling the broad scope of Jesus’ mission where nations of the world would come to worship the King of kings and Lord of lords. Epiphany calls us to live this missio dei…to proclaim the Good News of Christ’s arrival to every culture and to those living in the neighborhood as well. We are to be those who reflect the light of Jesus to our family, or neighbors, our community, and around the globe. That’s part of what it means to be the church–to be sent out as the manifestation of Jesus to a watching world.
People are watching. What message is your life communicating?
