I hope you had a wonderful Christmas Day in whatever way you have celebrated the birth of our Savior. While Christmas is over with, on the Church Calendar, Epiphany is the conclusion to the season of Advent and Christmas with a reflection on the visit of the wisemen to the Holy Family. Epiphany is important because it recognizes that the Advent of Christ was for people of all races and cultures, not just for the people of Israel. Epiphany tells us that Christ came for us and is our savior. It’s appropriate that we celebrate Epiphany on the last Sunday of the year as it definitely points us to a new beginning in life because of Christ.
Epiphany should also be a reminder to us that Christ came for all people groups and cultures around the world. Throughout the history of the church, Christians, local churches and Christian denominations can begin to believe that the Advent of Jesus is best understood in their own culture and traditions. We tend to believe that other cultures only muddy the waters of why Jesus came and for those cultures to really get who Jesus is they should first become like us, adopting our culture and traditions. Epiphany demonstrates that is not the case. What that means for us as Christians, as local churches and as denominations, is that we will better understand the full implications of the Advent of Jesus when we see it in light of cultural diversity. I have found that every time I encounter Christianity in a new culture, I understand the Gospel in a fuller way. As you come to Church this Sunday will you pray, “God, please open my eyes to understanding the Advent of Christ as a Gift for all people groups and cultures.” I pray you will make a new beginning just like those first wisemen did in the birth narrative.