The Epiphany, or the
Manifestation of Christ to the Gentiles
What a long title for a simple
thought. The Epiphany is the title
of the feast recalling the arrival of the Magi to pay homage to the Lord
Jesus. Epiphany means revealing or
becoming aware. Our Lord was
revealed first to the Hebrews through the shepherds. The first gentiles (non-Hebrews) to whom He was first
revealed were the Magi or Wise Men who came from afar to pay Him honor.
Propers
The Propers are the same each
year, except if a Red Letter Feast, that is one with Propers in the prayerbook,
falls on a Sunday, then those Propers are to be read instead, with the Collect
for the actual Sunday read also.
Some days are particularly special, such as the Epiphany, and the
Collect is read for eight days (the legendary Octave) The Propers for the Epiphany are found on Page
107-109 with the Collect first:
The Epiphany, or the
Manifestation of Christ
to the Gentiles.
[January 6.]
The Collect.
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GOD, who by the leading of a star
didst manifest thy only-begotten Son to the Gentiles; Mercifully grant that we,
who know thee now by faith, may after this life have the fruition of thy
glorious Godhead; through the same thy Son Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
¶ This Collect is to be said daily throughout the Octave
Dru Arnold read the Epistle for
the evening, which came from the Letter of Saint Paul to the Ephesians
beginning at the First Verse of the Third Chapter:
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OR this cause I Paul, the prisoner of Jesus Christ for you
Gentiles, if ye have heard of the dispensation of the grace of God, which is
given me to you-ward: how that by revelation he made known unto me the mystery;
(as I wrote afore in few words, whereby, when ye read, ye may understand my
knowledge in the mystery of Christ) which in other ages was not made known unto
the sons of men, as it is now revealed unto his holy apostles and prophets by
the Spirit; that the Gentiles should be fellow-heirs, and of the same body, and
partakers of his promise in Christ by the gospel: whereof I was made a
minister, according to the gift of the grace of God given unto me by the
effectual working of his power. Unto me, who am less than the least of all
saints, is this grace given, that I should preach among the Gentiles the
unsearchable riches of Christ; and to make all men see what is the fellowship
of the mystery, which from the beginning of the world hath been hid in God, who
created all things by Jesus Christ: to the intent that now unto the
principalities and powers in heavenly places might be known by the church the
manifold wisdom of God, according to the eternal purpose which he purposed in
Christ Jesus our Lord: in whom we have boldness and access with confidence by
the faith of him.
Deacon Striker Jack Arnold read
the Gospel for the evening which came from the Gospel of Saint Matthew, the
Second Chapter beginning at the First Verse:
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HEN Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judæa, in the days of Herod the
king, behold, there came wise men from the east to Jerusalem, saying, Where is
he that is born King of the Jews? for we have seen his star in the east, and
are come to worship him. When Herod the king had heard these things, he was
troubled, and all Jerusalem with him. And when he had gathered all the chief
priests and scribes of the people together, he demanded of them where Christ
should be born. And they said unto him, In Bethlehem of Judæa: for thus it is
written by the prophet, And thou Bethlehem, in the land of Juda, art not the
least among the princes of Juda: for out of thee shall come a Governor, that
shall rule my people Israel. Then Herod, when he had privily called the wise
men, enquired of them diligently what time the star appeared. And he sent them
to Bethlehem, and said, Go and search diligently for the young child; and when
ye have found him, bring me word again, that I may come and worship him also.
When they had heard the king, they departed; and, lo, the star, which they saw
in the east, went before them, till it came and stood over where the young
child was. When they saw the star, they rejoiced with exceeding great joy. And
when they were come into the house, they saw the young child with Mary his
mother, and fell down, and worshipped him: and when they had opened their
treasures, they presented unto him gifts; gold, and frankincense, and myrrh.
And being warned of God in a dream that they should not return to Herod, they
departed into their own country another way.
Thought
for the Day
The Epiphany service was not much
different than that first Epiphany.
Except this time there was one wise woman and two wise guys! Most important, Jesus was there! We had a great time worshipping. Join us some time, it is a lot of
fun. It seems as if there is
always plenty of room in the inn when there is church service going on. Cold outside, though!
Bishop Ogles’
Comment on the Gospel for The Epiphany
The one quality that has defined the Coming of Christ into the world, both at
Christmas and beyond, is the coming Light into a world of darkness – and the
Lord Jesus Christ is that Light of the World and of Heaven itself. There were
men of the East who sat in the darkness of superstition and ignorance for the
generations of their lives, but they were men, also, whose minds were open to
the evidence of Nature and Reason that there MUST be a God who spanned the
Heavens and created all the beauty of the earth. So they studied, perhaps, many
diverse religious notions and fell upon the one God described in the Hebrew
prophets. They did not read these prophets with a casual demeanor, but with
intense and diligent study. I have read a number of scholarly written theories
concerning from when these Wise Men came, but the Bible does not say. While
living in Esfahan, Iran, I became familiar with the Zoroastrian religion which
was still practiced, alongside Islam, in that city. It was the religion of
Cyrus (at one point), of Darius, of Xerxes (Ahasuerus of Esther's fame), and
Artaxerxes. These people believed in a duality in God – good
(AhuraMazda) and evil (Ahriman). They also maintain a perpetual fire of
AhuraMazda which they venerated as light. Their priests, even in the
contemporary era, are called "magi." It seems possible to me that
these were the Wise Men who studied the lights of heaven, compared them with
the prophetic writings of Scripture, and settled on the prophecy of the Coming
Light of Christ. Perhaps these scholars took particular note of the prophecy:
"I shall see him, but not now: I shall behold him, but not nigh:
there shall come a Star out of Jacob, and a Sceptre shall rise out of
Israel…….." (Num 24:17) They searched the heavens and
constellations for a sign of His Coming, and they SAW it! I do not believe this
Star was some sort of natural alignment of heavenly bodies to produce an
explainable phenomenon, but a special Star (or Heavenly body) of God's own
special creation to answer the need for this great occasion. Why would it not
be when God created all heavenly bodies at the beginning and is still able to create
as He pleases?
"Now when Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judaea in the days of
Herod the king, behold, there came wise men from the east to Jerusalem."
Please bear in mind that these men saw His Star in the East and followed it to
Judea but, as they have drawn near to Jerusalem, they stopped following the
Star and began to follow their own wisdom. The Star did not lead them to
Jerusalem for that was not where the child, Jesus, was to be found. It might be
supposed as they drew near to Jerusalem (Bethlehem is only six miles
away), they probably began to reason that the Coming King would not be born in
a rural village but in capital city of Jerusalem, and most likely in the palace
of the King Herod. They were wrong, for man's thoughts are not God's thoughts.
God places no stock by glitter and glamour, but in the simple things of beauty
and truth.
"Saying, Where is he that is born King
of the Jews? for we have seen his star in the east, and are come to worship him"
There seems to be no question at all in the hearts of the Wise Men regarding
the identity of the Child to be born. They possessed strength of faith that
exceeded that of the Scribes and Priests of Israel. Their faith had been
confirmed by Light – the Light of the Star – and they had come to WORSHIP Him.
"When Herod the king had heard these things, he was troubled, and
all Jerusalem with him." The leadership of a nation,
whether good or bad, has a critical effect on the direction of the hearts of
the people. If our leader is Godly, he will pursue measures to strengthen the
faith of the people. If he is corrupt, the thoughts of the people will be
easily inclined to corruption. Note in our present verse how the King (Herod)
was troubled at the news of the birth of Christ. It should not have troubled
him for he was aware that the coming King of the Jews was a prophecy reinforced
by all of the prophets. The amazing fact is that ALL of Jerusalem was troubled
with him. See how blindly men will follow the example of a devious leader? The
Scribes and Priests knew well the [prophecies, yet they were troubled along
with the King and all of his subjects. How sad!
"And when he had gathered all the chief priests and scribes of
the people together, he demanded of them where Christ should be born."
That old snake, Herod, knew well of the prophecy and he demonstrates the same
by summoning the scribes and chief priests together to inquire of the details
of the Lord's birth. He desired to know the EXACT place of His birth for the
sake of taking action to destroy the Son of God. What a vile creature he was,
and blight upon the face of the earth!
"And they said unto him, In Bethlehem of Judaea: for thus it is
written by the prophet, And thou Bethlehem, in the land of Juda, art not the
least among the princes of Juda: for out of thee shall come a Governor, that
shall rule my people Israel." Notice that these scribes
and chief priests, who were alike troubled at the news of Christ's birth, knew
well the prophecies of His Coming birth and accurately related them to Herod.
It is this attitude that seems to prevail among the religious leaders of
Israel, not only at this time, but throughout the ministry of Christ, that
convinces me that their evil hearts always knew who Christ was and rejected Him
out of that knowledge and not out of ignorance as is proffered today by many
preachers. These culprits quoted the prophecy well. They also believed the
prophecy for they told Herod that the Child would be born in Bethlehem
"for thus it is written." The last phrase of the prophecy is that
which troubled Herod beyond all measure: "for out of thee shall
come a Governor, that shall rule my people Israel."
Herod was concerned for his own power and rule by this last phrase.
"Then Herod, when he had privily called the wise men, inquired of
them diligently what time the star appeared." We can
deduce the motive of Herod here in asking, privately, when the Star appeared.
He obviously wished to know the age of the Child and considered Him to have
been born at the appearing of the Star. Bear in mind that the Wise Men traveled
many months, if not a year or two, in traversing the desolate deserts of Arabia
in following the Star. Moreover the rivers of the Tigris and Euphrates had to
be crossed. So Herod inquired `diligently' for he believed he had a personal
stake in the answer.
"And he sent them to Bethlehem, and said, Go and search
diligently for the young child; and when ye have found him, bring me word
again, that I may come and worship him also." I must
confess that Herod is worse than a serpent for a snake will not chase us down
to murder us, but Herod asks cunningly about the age of the Child and requested
the Wise Men to report back His exact whereabouts when they have found Him. He
adds that he would like this information that he might come and worship Christ
as well. As you will recall, Herod sent soldiers to Bethlehem later and
slew every male child two years of age and younger.
"When they had heard the king, they departed; and, lo, the star,
which they saw in the east, went before them, till it came and stood over where
the young child was.." I am amazed at the concise
manner in which much meaning is conveyed in Holy Scripture. Observe, not only
that which is spoken, but that which is implied in this verse. When the Wise
Men departed from the false, man-made lights of the city, they again saw the
Star which they had stopped following when they entered Jerusalem. The Light
will always lead us to Christ for all Light knows its source. Christ is the Light
of the World and, like the Sun, generates Light and IS the Light. The Star led
them to Bethlehem and stood over where the young Child was. The child was no
longer a new-born baby but a young child.
"When they saw the star, they rejoiced with exceeding great joy."
That is, when they saw that the Star stopped and stood over the place they knew
would mark the place of the young Child. They have traversed desert, plain,
mountain, and great waters for this very moment. Now their expectations will be
fully satisfied! "And when they were come into the house, they
saw the young child with Mary his mother, and fell down, and worshipped him."
The Great Lighthouse casts its beams across the tempestuous Seas and billows to
herald all ships at sea who will respond to its beckon that here is the harbor
of calm and safety. "Come hither for rest and security." The Wise Men
have followed the warm and radiant beams of a Star Light to Christ. When a
sinner comes near to Christ, he must not stop at the threshold, but enter in to
the company of Christ. The Wise Men enter into the house without delay.
Immediately upon seeing Christ with His mother Mary, they fell down and
worshipped Him. These were no beggars, but men of renown and fortune who were
honored in their homeland. But they fall down and worship a little Baby Jesus
immediately upon seeing Him. The battered ship, having weathered the storm to
come to safe harbor must "let go anchor." We have found a place of
constant abiding in Him.
"……and when they had opened their treasures, they presented unto
him gifts; gold, and frankincense, and myrrh."
These men were Wise because they employed their faculties in coming to Christ.
They went to a great deal of trouble to find Him. How much effort have we
expended to come to Him? They remembered to bring their treasures. Today, we
bring our talents, our souls, and bodies. The gifts of the Wise men are
particularly prophetic: the Gold signified His royalty, the Frankincense His
Deity (as the smoke of the incense rises over the altar, it represents our
prayers being raised to God), and the Myrrh represents His death. It was
perhaps these precious gifts that provided support for Mary, Joseph and Jesus
during their repose in Egypt.
"And being warned of God in a dream that they should not return
to Herod, they departed into their own country another way." God has taken precaution against that Old Fox – Herod,
and warned the Wise Men to return home on another route than that which they
had traveled in coming. There is a coming terror to the mothers and male
children of Bethlehem. That dire prophecy, uttered by Jeremiah the prophet, is
about to transpire: "Thus saith the LORD; A voice was heard in Ramah
(Bethlehem), lamentation, and bitter weeping; Rahel weeping for her children
refused to be comforted for her children, because they were not."
(Jer 31:15) These precious children, ruthlessly murdered by a power-mad
ruler, became the first martyrs in the cause of Christ. We acknowledged their
Day of Holy Innocents three days following Christmas Day. Their precious little
souls were also perhaps first to rest in the bosom of another Child, the Lord
Jesus Himself!
The First Sunday after the Epiphany
The Propers are found on Page
109-111 with the Collect first:
The
First Sunday after The Epiphany.
The
Collect.
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LORD, we beseech thee mercifully to
receive the prayers of thy people who call upon thee; and grant that they may
both perceive and know what things they ought to do, and also may have grace
and power faithfully to fulfil the same; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
The Epiphany, or the Manifestation of Christ
to the Gentiles.
[January 6.]
The Collect.
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GOD, who by the leading of a star
didst manifest thy only-begotten Son to the Gentiles; Mercifully grant that we,
who know thee now by faith, may after this life have the fruition of thy
glorious Godhead; through the same thy Son Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
¶ This Collect is to be said daily throughout the Octave
Ryan Hopkins
read the Epistle for today, which came from the Twelfth Chapter of Paul’s
letter to the Romans beginning at the First Verse. Paul asks not only those
long gone Romans, but us, as well, to “present your bodies a living
sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable
service.” He tells us our home is
in heaven. Life here is not the
end, rather the stepping off point, either to heaven or hell. Thus were are “not conformed to this
world: but to be ye transformed by the renewing of your
mind, that we ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and
perfect, will of God.” Some of us
may be better than others, but all fall short of the minimum standard. Through Christ we attain eternal
life. In the meantime, each of us
should not “think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think
soberly, according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith.” Each of us has a place in the church, a
reason to be and job to do. “For
as we have many members in one body, and all members have not the same office:
so we, being many, are one body in Christ, and every one members one of
another.”
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BESEECH you therefore, brethren, by
the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy,
acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. And be not conformed to
this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may
prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God. For I say,
through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to think
of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly, according
as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith. For as we have many
members in one body, and all members have not the same office: so we, being
many, are one body in Christ, and every one members one of another.
Deacon Striker Jack Arnold read the Gospel for today which
came from the Second Chapter of the Gospel of St. Luke beginning at the Forty-First Verse. It tells the story of when Jesus stayed behind in Jerusalem
after the Passover Feast in his twelfth year. When they were done, the family group, for they likely
traveled with their extended family for safety, left together. After the first day’s travel they
stopped for the night and could not find Jesus. So, fearing the worst, they headed back at night for Jerusalem. Braving robbers and worse, they made
their way back. After
looking for three days, they went to the temple, where lo, they found him. He was among the learned men “both
hearing them, and asking them questions. And all that heard him were astonished
at his understanding and answers.”
His parents were amazed and confounded. He asked them why they worried and why they did not
understand that he was about his Father’s business. It is interesting to see that Jesus at twelve was able to
“hold his own” with the learned scholars of Judah. He was able to out reason those who lived to dissect the
Law. “A little child shall lead
them,” Isaiah 11:1-10
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OW his
parents went to Jerusalem every year at the feast of the passover. And when he
was twelve years old, they went up to Jerusalem after the custom of the feast.
And when they had fulfilled the days, as they returned, the child Jesus tarried
behind in Jerusalem; and Joseph and his mother knew not of it. But they,
supposing him to have been in the company, went a day’s journey; and they
sought him among their kinsfolk and acquaintance. And when they found him not,
they turned back again to Jerusalem, seeking him. And it came to pass, that
after three days they found him in the temple, sitting in the midst of the
doctors, both hearing them, and asking them questions. And all that heard him
were astonished at his understanding and answers. And when they saw him, they
were amazed: and his mother said unto him, Son, why hast thou thus dealt with
us? behold, thy father and I have sought thee sorrowing. And he said unto them,
How is it that ye sought me? wist ye not that I must be about my Father’s
business? And they understood not the saying which he spake unto them. And he
went down with them, and came to Nazareth, and was subject unto them: but his
mother kept all these sayings in her heart. And Jesus increased in wisdom and
stature, and in favour with God and man.
Sermon – Time
and Action
Today’s sermon brought the
Collect, Epistle and Gospel together and is partly contained in the forewords
above.
Consider these words from the
Collect:
…grant that they may both
perceive and know what things they ought to do, and also may have grace and
power faithfully to fulfil the same…
We are asking God to
help us know what we should do and then help us to do it right. Seems pretty simple. That is the root of almost all our
problems. First, even if we ask
God what He wants us to do, “There are none so deaf as those who will not
hear.” Then, if we hear what He
wants us to do, and hear it correctly, we often find it “too hard.” Do you recall this quote from GK
Chesterton:
·
“Christianity has not been tried and found
wanting; it has been found difficult and not tried.”
So once we find out what God
wants, we often rationalize our way around it. Think about the 613 Mosaic laws and the Pharisees who made a
good living telling people how to comply with them to the letter and still do
just what they wanted to do. So,
then even if we find out what God wants and decide to actually do it instead of
avoid it, we are faced with the often huge problem of where do we get the
strength to accomplish this task.
The answer is circular, from God.
He asks us to do anything we cannot do good enough for Him if we rely on
Him. Never. End of that discussion.
Now, once you have managed to
get this far, you can become one of Paul’s New Men, a person who has accepted
God’s Grace, turning to God and relying on Him for guidance, strength, courage
and perseverance. One of the tools
God gives us to get things done is a Team, that Team is fellow Christians. So, we need to work together as a
Team. Think not of your glory, but
that of God. President Reagan had
a sign on his desk which read:
“There is no limit to the amount of good
you can do if you don't care who gets the credit.”
Paul tells us not to
concentrate on our status, position or grandeur, but to see what we can do to
help. Just like our body would not
function if all parts were brains, neither will Christ’s Team function if
everyone is concerned about their position.
When we look at the Gospel
today, aside from the historical function telling us that Jesus was in the
temple bringing the light of the gospel to the rabbis, I am reminded there are
other lessons. It is not that we
want to micromanage your life, but keep your friends and family informed of
what you are doing and where you are going. Jesus’ earthly parents risked life and limb going back
up the road to Jerusalem at night.
But, that was their duty as parents. A duty which must have been done, no matter the cost.
Duty –
God • Honor • Country • Family
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