Epiphany

“Would you take a look at those fancy clothes!”

“And what’s with the hats? Who do they think they are, anyway, Kings?”

“What do you think are in those packages?”

Today is January 6th, known in church circles as Epiphany, the day we remember the arrival of the Magi (wisemen/kings) to Bethlehem, the day when they met Christ, which was an epiphany, a manifestation of seeing God face to face. It’s a day usually bundled into the Christmas story, but I like the fact that the moment is given a day of its own. After all their effort, it’s the least we can do to stop and reflect on the wisemen and their journey to Bethlehem.

I’ve always had a thing for star-gazers. Yes, like others, I sometimes look at the way they dress or listen to the things they say and think they’re nuts, but the truth is, I also admire them and, at times, am a little jealous as well. I have the same longing for God that star-gazers profess but lack the confidence to stand out from the crowd like they did, or be caught staring into the sky. 

I’m also overwhelmed by the effort required for such journeys. The wisemen traveled a great distance, and I often find it too much to drive to church, let alone to the homeless shelter or Habitat house. Spending an hour in the morning to read and reflect is, at times, overwhelming, and I secretly wish Bethlehem would come to me.

But what I think keeps me from being a wiseman most is fear – fear of where I might find Christ, and fear of who Christ might end up being. Like many, I prefer a predictable faith and a God made out of my own imagination, crafted in my own image, rather than the other way around. But, if the men of old teach us anything it is that Christ is sometimes found where we least expect. Bethlehems come in many shapes and sizes and not all of them have steeples. So, too, the one waiting for us may end up being unlike what we imagined or hoped for.  Instead of a mighty king, Christ might be a babe wrapped in swaddling clothes. Instead of greeting us with a smile that allows us to behave in certain ways or hold certain convictions, he might look at us as if to say, ”It’s time you let me transform your life. Buckle up!”

The good news, though, the news we celebrate today (and every day), is that Christ is waiting to be found. He may be found where we least expect, in a way beyond human understanding, but that’s why such moments are called “epiphanies,” and today we thank God for them.