Today is the feast of Epiphany which brings to completion what the feast of Christmas began. The redemption has become real, in us and upon us. The Lord has come to visit us, has made us clean, has joined us to himself most deeply. We know we are loved.
Born a man, he has shown himself as God, has rescued us and espoused himself to us. Changed into a new being, and set upon another way, we pass back from the banquet table to the life of every-day. We have seen God. We have become his children.” Two thousand years later, we join in the homage and gift-giving of the Magi by worshiping Jesus—Son of Mary, King of kings, and the One whom we will adore for all eternity.
On entering the house, they saw the child with Mary, his mother; and they knelt down and paid him homage. Then, opening their treasure chests, they offered him gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh. // Matthew 2:11
The Feast of the Epiphany, the twelfth day of Christmas, reminds us that while the world has long packed up Christmas for another year, we continue to celebrate the birth of our Savior. (I’m counter-cultural, resisting the efficiency of packing up my cherished Christmas nativities and decorations in order to wait and enjoy the season through Epiphany!) We are blessed with another day to ponder the profound meaning of the Incarnation: that Jesus, the Messiah, the Son of God, came down to earth to meet us in our need, to dwell and walk among us, and to save us from our sin.
What an incredible gift worth celebrating and reverencing for more than one day!
In this year’s Smitten with Goodness reflections, I’ll be reflecting on how we respond to this gift? The gift of salvation? The gift of rescue? The gift of complete and total love? The gift of being loved? I hope you’ll join me!
If you feel God is calling you into deeper relationship knowing you are loved, you don’t have to go it alone. A spiritual companion can accompany you on the journey. Contact me here if you would like to learn more or have any questions.
Smitten With Goodness 