Since serving in the Lutheran church where the season of Epiphany is part of the worship calendar, I like to leave my Christmas decorations up at least until the Festival of Epiphany. For centuries, January 6 has been celebrated as the Festival of Epiphany in many Christian churches around the world. "The Twelve Days of Christmas" marks this time frame. Since people normally gather for worship only on Sunday, many protestant churches follow the Roman Catholic practice of celebrating Epiphany on the first Sunday after January 1, which was January 2 this year.
From WIKIPEDIA: Epiphany is celebrated by both the Eastern and Western Churches, but a major difference between them is precisely which events the feast commemorates. For Western Christians, the feast primarily commemorates the coming of the Magi; Eastern churches celebrate the Baptism of Christ in the Jordan. In both traditions, the essence of the feast is the same: the manifestation of Christ to the world (whether as an infant or in the Jordan), and the Mystery of the Incarnation.
The season of Epiphany extends until the Festival of the Transfiguration—the culmination of this season marked by pondering the manifestation of Christ—and falls on the final Sunday before Ash Wednesday.
I grew up in an independent Baptist tradition which celebrated only Christmas and Easter in the "church year calendar." It has been a delight for me as an adult to learn about and follow the church calendar, learn about it's ancient origins, and benefit from the faith-growing and faith-strengthening opportunities offered in purposefully and deeply pondering these significant events in the life of Christ. Christmas and Easter are certainly highlights, yet as such, the "world" has hi-jacked them in many ways for commercial, non-faithful purposes. Epiphany, the Naming of Jesus, the Baptism in the Jordan, the Transfiguration
—these all belong exclusively to the church, remaining undiluted by secular interests.
May all my family and friends who worship in liturgical faith communities rejoice in their heritage and take time to ponder these mysteries this year in increasingly deeper, fresher, and more meaningful ways. May all Christians continue to ponder Emmanuel, God with us—who helps us grow in our knowledge and love of him all year!
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| Adoration of the Magi - MURRILO |
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