Feast of the Epiphany
Saint Cecilia Catholic Community
January 05, 2025 – 10:30 AM
Rev. David Justin Lynch
Isaiah 60:1-6 | Psalm 72:1-2;7-8;10-13
Ephesians 3:2-3A;5-6 | Matthew 2:1-12
+ In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, AMEN.
Tomorrow will be officially the Feast of the Epiphany, which we will celebrate today. Over the past eleven days, the holiday season, which started on Thanksgiving Day, has been winding down, though I hope that you will carry the spirit of Christmas in your hearts throughout the year.
One of Epiphany’s traditional themes is that of light. According to mainstream Christian tradition, the light of a star led the Wise Men, or Magi, as they are often called, from their homes in Eastern Countries to the crib of Jesus at some unspecified time after his birth, bringing with them gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh.
The music traditionally associated with Epiphany reminds us of the significance of Light. Our Offertory Hymn will begin, “Brightest and Best Are the Stars of the Morning.” After Communion, you will hear the choir sing Felix Mendelsohn’s “There Shall A Star from Jacob Come Forth” with words taken in part from the Book of Numbers in the Torah. Our final hymn mentions that the Magi were guided by a star as explained in today’s Gospel. The refrain is particularly important: “Light of Light that Shineth, e’er the world began, draw thou near and lighten every heart of man.” Of course, the author of the words did not intend to exclude women from his poem, but, in accordance with the literary style of the nineteenth century, he used the term “man” to encompass all humankind.
For Christians, the importance of light extends beyond Epiphany. You will recall that, in the First Creation Story in the Book of Genesis, the first thing God made was light. The story later identifies not only the sun, but also the stars and moon, as sources of light. In the Old Testament, to see the light of day is to possess life. The light of life is reflected in one’s eyes, as is the light of joy and vitality. Throughout scripture, light stands for well-being and success. The light of your face indicates favor and goodwill.
Light symbolizes the gift of God’s salvation. In this context, “to see the light” means the power of God to save humankind from the evil powers of the world. To walk in the divine light means to follow God’s commandments. God’s light protects and illuminates humanity. The Bible uses light and darkness as metaphorical representations of knowledge and ignorance. Put in everyday terms, stupid people live in darkness, while intelligent people live in light.
Jesus, by virtue of his resurrection, is the Lord of Life. In the Gospel of John for Christmas Day, the evangelist identified Jesus as the light of the world that enlightens everyone, but which the dark forces of our world can never overcome.
As a practicing Jew, Jesus likely celebrated Hanukkah as part of His Jewish heritage. Jesus knew the symbolism of light from the Feast of Hannukah. In the Gospel of John, Jesus is mentioned specifically in the Temple during this festival. His presence there aligns with its themes of light, dedication, and deliverance, which are deeply connected to His mission and identity.
The central story of Hanukkah is the miracle of the oil during the rededication of the Second Temple in Jerusalem around one-sixty-five B-C. When the Maccabees reclaimed the Temple from the Seleucid Greeks, they found only enough consecrated oil to light the Temple candelabrum for one day. But miraculously, the oil burned for eight days. The light of the menorah represented divine intervention and the enduring power of God.
Jesus identified himself as the light of the world while attending the Feast of Tabernacles, an important day in the Jewish Calendar, also known as Sukkot. The Book of Exodus tells us that Sukkot involved lighting large lamps in the temple court, symbolizing God’s guidance through the pillar of fire during the Exodus that led the Jewish people out of Egyptian slavery. Against this backdrop of light, Jesus declared Himself to be the ultimate spiritual light, transcending the symbolism of the festival.
Remember, the first Christians were Jews, so the connection between light and those festivals is how they understood light as a religious concept. They understood life as carrying out God’s salvific purpose as proclaimed in First Isaiah when the prophet said, “The people who sat in darkness have seen a great light,” which they quoted in Matthew’s Gospel at the beginning of the earthly ministry of Jesus. Early Christians viewed light as a gift given to men for revelation, illumination, or salvation in the context of the role of Jesus as the promised Messiah. They saw Jesus as someone whose life conquered darkness.
The light-and-darkness metaphor demonstrates a strong eschatological aspect, that is, a connection to the end of time. When the Kingdom of God is fully realized, Christians, as children of light, will rule a world where darkness will never again prevail. For Christians, darkness can be viewed as the state of not receiving Christ’s revelation or receiving it and turning away from it. Jesus illuminates the path to God, much like light that provides clarity in darkness. The light that is Jesus exposes spiritual truths and leads to eternal life, contrasting with the spiritual darkness of sin and separation from God.
You will recall that in our Baptism service, we hand a lighted candle to the candidate, or to his or her sponsor if the candidate is a young child, with the words, “Receive the light of Christ. This light is to be kept burning brightly.” We present that candle because, for Christians, light symbolizes purity, truth, and the presence of God, while darkness represents sin and ignorance. Saint Paul describes those following the way of Jesus as children of light.
In John’s gospel, Jesus proclaims that he is the light of the world and that whoever follows Jesus will not live in darkness but will manifest the light of life. Jesus dispels the “darkness” of sin, ignorance, and despair, bringing clarity, understanding, and hope. For Jesus, light is life itself, just as it is in the Old Testament.
During His time in the Temple at Hanukkah, Jesus used the opportunity to reveal more about His identity. He spoke about His relationship with the Father, stating, “I and the Father are one.” This bold claim sparked tension, as it directly challenged the religious leaders of the day, much like the Maccabees had challenged the forces of assimilation in their time.
As our source of spiritual life, Jesus exposes sin and leads us to repentance, enabling us to walk in righteousness. Righteousness is being in right standing with God, achieved through faith in Jesus Christ and expressed in a life that reflects His character. It is both a gift of grace and a calling to live in obedience, justice, and love.
As you leave here today, think about how Jesus can enlighten your life. But that’s not something that’s going to happen to you automatically. To be in the light of Jesus requires commitment on your part. Think of walking into a dark room and turning on the light. In the same way, Jesus can and will illuminate our lives. Just as a lamp or the sun provides physical light to guide our steps, Jesus provides spiritual light, guiding us through the challenges and uncertainties of life.
Following Jesus as the light of your life does not only mean coming to church but also how you live your life outside the church in relation to other people. It means thinking before you say or do something.
Christianity should be a daily journey where your actions and thoughts reflect the teachings of Jesus. Evaluate your interactions with others. Are they rooted in love, patience, and understanding? Reflecting Christ’s light means treating others with kindness, even when it’s difficult.
The Star of Bethlehem, which guided the Wise Men to Jesus, can, and should, guide your life as well. The nature of light is to shine in the darkness. It is important that those who have been illuminated become illuminators and not simply keep to themselves the light they have received. It is in this light that Jesus said, in Matthew’s Gospel, “Let your light so shine before other people, that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father in Heaven.”
In other words, Jesus wants you to be a light for others. You might recall Saint Francis of Assisi saying, “Preach the Gospel, and if necessary, use words. What he meant is to let people learn the Gospel of Jesus by watching what you do. This means demonstrating Christian values like love, kindness, compassion, and forgiveness through your daily actions so that others can see the light that comes from Jesus reflected in your daily life. AMEN.