Growing up in a less formal, Pentecostal worship environment as a young Christian, I don’t recall the Advent season ever being spoken of as such. I knew nothing about the lighting of Advent candles or that there was any special meaning attached to them during the four Sundays leading up to Christmas and the following Sundays. It was a precious part of my young spiritual journey that went missing for me, one that I now enjoy with the lighting of every candle, in our home as well as at church. May we never rob the children of the true purpose and meaning of the Advent season and Christmas celebration.
It goes without saying that, as ignorant as I was about Advent, I had no concept whatsoever of the season of Epiphany. It sounded suspiciously like something Catholics might do, not Bible-believers like us. Does this sound strangely familiar to you? I hope not. I was so very wrong in the exclusionary self-righteousness of my young faith. This shouldn’t be our normal spiritual fare. It is like filling up on desserts and ignoring the main entrée. Anyway, now I’m on one of my rare church calendar rolls, so hang with me while I unpack Epiphany 2014.
Epiphany, from the Greek, epiphaneia meaning “manifestation,” commemorates the first manifestation or revelation of God the Son as a human being in Jesus Christ. (Is this not something worth celebrating?) Western Christians commemorate this physical manifestation of Jesus to the Gentiles to be represented by the Magi (Matthew 2:1–12). Eastern Christians commemorate the baptism of Jesus in the Jordan as his manifestation to the world as the Son of God.
Whichever “epiphany” you choose, I believe it is time for one on a personal level. Let’s begin this year with a really big “aha” moment, a fresh revelation, an insight that staggers us with its suddenness. As you behold an early morning sunrise in the desert, gaze at snow-covered fields at dawn, or glimpse the early morning light between city skyscrapers, stop where you are for a moment and breathe in a deep breath of amazement. Look! The Creator of all things, the Eternal Light of the world has come to us in space, time and history. The Divine Son became human like us, lived among us, died for us, rose triumphant before us, and sent the Holy Spirit to us, so that we might be like him.
This is a message lost on the eyes and ears of many of our peers, and those of their children and their children’s children. But it is the “epiphany” entrusted to every Christ follower in life’s second half, with divine orders to stir the glowing embers of our peers. To leave the Light on for the next generation!
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