The Epiphany Times Three - 2023

During the Advent / Christmas cycle of the year 2021, in this blog we reflected on the Three Comings of Christ. The 1st being His Incarnation, His 2nd is the Day of Judgement and His 3rd is now, each time a person is baptised into the life of Christ. Now let us look at these Three Epiphany's of Christ. We commonly think of the Epiphany as that one event in Christ's life where the Magi, led by a star, make their way to see him and offer him gifts fitting a new king. However, the Catholic liturgy considers the Epiphany to be threefold, the visit by the Magi, the Baptism of Jesus by John, and the Miracle of the Wine at the Wedding in Cana. The Greek word, "epiphaneia", was used to signify the coming of a king or emperor. It was also used for the self-manifestation of a god or for his miraculous intervention; this later, likely the original use of the word. A popular use of the word “epiphany” today means a sudden discovery, something finally seen and recognized, the beginning of understanding; we say, “ah, now I see, now I understand!” "I just had an epiphany". The word "insight" comes to mind here. Let us stay with this notion for now. Many people these days have abandoned the practice of belonging to a church. They say they are spiritual but not religious and do not need the structures of church membership to be a good person. It is true that everyone is spiritual for that is how God created us, a physical being with a spiritual soul. However to simply claim to be spiritual is to leave out one important thing - it is religious practice that connects spirit to the physical, so that it can bear fruit in the world. An apple tree without branches is just a stump. The people at the time of the Epiphany were both spiritual and religious. Where they were having difficulties was with which religion, which religious practice? Who best to sort out this complicated question than God Himself. The Epiphany is God showing in himself as the true religious way for all to see. ( ... now I see, now I get it, so this is the truly spiritual manifest in the truly religious practice. And oh what confusion we people are capable of creating. So the work that began with these three Epiphany's continues to unfold even as we speak.  Do you get it? Do you understand? How is your "epiphany experience" unfolding? Here is where true spirituality enters the discussion - true spirituality happens when we become seekers, searching for Him the One who will tell us in person who he is. As seekers our gifts to offer are open hearts and minds in search of "insight" and understanding - people with a dynamic spiritual/religious practice seeking a personal encounter with Jesus. Just as true spirituality does not tell God who he is, likewise true religion does not make up how God is to be served, God himself has come to show us how he wants us to worship and serve him. So we need to belong to the Church that Jesus established as his way of gathering us around himself for instruction.

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