Epiphany is one of the oldest and most important festival days in the Christian tradition. It dates back to the latter half of the 2nd century. Clement of Alexandria, in one of the earliest Christian writings, referred to the fundamental importance of celebrating Epiphany on the 6th of January. As early Christianity developed and spread beyond Judaism, Epiphany became one of the three most important celebrations in Christian polity. These three were central to the Christian expression - Christmas, Easter, and Epiphany.

This poses a puzzle. Why would the visit of three foreigners be elevated in importance to the birth and resurrection of Jesus? And why would today's Christian culture so thoroughly ignore them? It is understandable that Christianity, centered on the person of Jesus, would remember birth, death and resurrection. Why throw three strangers into the mix? And what, in today's Christian culture, is the advantage in forgetting them?

'Epiphany' is from the Greek word epiphaneia, which means "manifestation." It refers to the moment when something first manifests. It is somewhat like an "a-ha!" moment, a "light bulb" experience, like the person in a cartoon who realizes something for the first time - the artist draws a light bulb over the head. An epiphany is a moment of realization, when we are enthralled for the first time with what something really means.

Epiphany is about firsts. The season of Epiphany traces firsts through the gospels: Jesus' baptism when God's endorsement makes the first claim of Divine kinship, the first miracle in Cana of Galilee, the first transfiguration. Significantly, the season opens on January 6th by recognizing the first manifestation of Jesus to the Gentiles, the first recognition that Jesus (the whole message and meaning of his life) is inclusive.

This inclusive embrace so critical to the early witness was not a conversion of others to the Christian way of thinking. These were Magi. They were priests from a foreign religion who, in the context and integrity of their own faith, saw the relevance of the birth of Jesus. They came and gave their homage, and then went back home.

One perspective is that any contemporary Christian culture wanting to be exclusive, will downplay Epiphany. Such has been successful in the American Christian tradition. By wedding Christmas with the materialism of a capitalistic society, Christians can huddle in their churches and never wonder about what's beyond the stained glass windows. The wise men have become incidental parts in Christmas pageants and moved to minor figurines in nativity scenes. Epiphany has come to mean boxing up Christmas decorations, taking advantage of after-Christmas discounts, and getting life back to "normal."

Jesus did not come to establish a new religion. He came to show a way of being spiritual in the context of an existing religion, in his case, Judaism. Christianity, as a separate religion, developed much later. The Magi attest to the claim that the way of Jesus is universal, indigenous within the heart of each and every soul upon the earth. Epiphany invites us to open our hearts to what is different - not to convert, but to embrace.

The wise men still come. They come quietly in the night. They pass under our street lamps and fade into the darkness. And perhaps a few of our children, bored with the festivities inside, stand on the street corners and wave as they pass. Oh, that we may see what our children see!

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