Epiphany

Yesterday (January 6th) marked the beginning of the Season of Epiphany on the church calendar. Epiphany follows the twelve days of Christmas (December 25th - January 5th) and it celebrates the revelation that Jesus is King. Usually the visit of the magi is commemorated, since these wise men were some of the first to acknowledge the kingly identity of the newborn Jesus. Also, Simeon’s pronouncement that Jesus is “a light for revelation to the Gentiles” (Luke 2:32) continues to shape Epiphany.

Simeon’s pronouncement and its meaning for Epiphany are worth considering. The Gospel of Luke (2:25-26) notes that Simeon “was waiting for the consolation of Israel” and that “it would be revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not die before he had seen the Lord’s Messiah.” Upon his encounter with the newborn Jesus, Simeon “praised God” with the following words: “Sovereign Lord, as You have promised, You may now dismiss your servant in peace. For my eyes have seen your salvation, which You have prepared in the sight of all nations: a light for revelation to the Gentiles, and the glory of your people Israel.” (Luke 2:29-32)

Simeon acknowledged that Jesus is the true King, the One meant to rule over the human heart in such a way that we are truly free from the false kings that enslave us. The fact that Jesus is the bearer of our salvation cannot be known except through the eyes of faith. Said differently, it is a revelation of the Holy Spirit for one to see Jesus - the same Jesus whose body is the Church and who meets us in the bread and wine of Communion - it is a revelation of the Holy Spirit to see this Jesus as our King and Savior. He is lowly; He is weak; and His call to follow Him looks like it ends with death on a cross. The epiphany, however, is that Jesus’ lowliness, weakness, and death are in fact glory, strength, and life.

To the one who believes that Jesus is indeed the true King, the commandment to love God and neighbor is a joyful duty that entails great blessing. Jesus’ reign frees his followers from enslavement to earthly powers, especially those powers that enslave us to our own desires. The appetite for earthly security, comfort, and glory can bind us and lead us to misery.  In contrast, Jesus' reign frees his followers for a life in which all things (crummy ones included) work for one's benefit.  As Paul wrote in Romans, "in all things God works for the good of those who love Him." (Romans 8:28)

Ultimately, Simeon’s epiphany that the humble Jesus is our salvation anticipates the epiphany that the crucified One is also the risen One. If the Season of Epiphany is to teach us anything, then, it must be that humbly following Jesus (i.e. accepting our death, bearing one another's burdens, loving our neighbors to the end) holds God’s promise of the greatest blessing and life eternal.