Divine Manifestation

Have you ever experienced an epiphany? Aside from it's significance as a season in the Christian calendar, it's defined as: "a sudden, profound moment of clarity, insight, or realization that dramatically shifts one's perspective, understanding, or worldview."

This modern use of the word can have different contexts. Perhaps you had an epiphany regarding some challenge you were facing at work or in a relationship. Or maybe it was an introspective psychological insight related to your past that helped you understand current patterns in your life. For me sometimes nature itself can facilitate what I call mini-epiphanies. The photo above was one of those moments where the blue in one part of the sky appeared almost otherworldly – divine even. My epiphany in that moment revolved around a renewed sense of the Lord's beauty as revealed in this aspect of his creation.

Whatever the context that facilitates the insight, these kinds of epiphanies are moments that contribute to a change of perspective.

The Scriptures also communicate the idea of of epiphany but on the divine scale. The root of the word epiphany is derived from the Greek, meaning "manifestation." Epiphany as a season in the Christian calendar initially points to the manifestation of the star that led the wisemen to the Christ child. Beyond that, it speaks to the manifestation of Christ himself to the Magi, who were the first Gentiles to acknowledge Jesus as King.

But that's not all that we find in our Scripture readings this season. The first Sunday after Epiphany is a feast day that marks the baptism of Christ, which is also a significant manifestation. There in the waters of the Jordan, God the Father identifies Jesus as his beloved Son, and the Holy Spirit descends upon him, filling him and equipping him to take up his calling as the savior of the world.

Friends, may we orient our hearts toward Epiphany this week, remembering that God manifested himself to the world through the incarnation of his dear Son. And may our focus on that truth grant us a personal epiphany whereby we experience renewed joy, love, and purpose that comes from the knowledge of Christ's love.

Darin+