January 6th Epiphany Discoveries
Who is wise and understanding among you? Let them show it by their good life, by deeds done in the humility that comes from wisdom.
(James 3:13 NIV)
These ceramic pieces are among my most treasured possessions and grace our home during Advent. I remember my mom going to a ceramics class many months to complete a Nativity set, which included the three Wisemen and their camels. Since Mom’s passing, they bring back warm memories of her each Christmas.
I’m writing this post on January 6, 2024.
By the end of this weekend, all Christmas decorations in our home will be put away, a big task since my husband and I enjoy decorating for the special season.
A few years ago, I learned many Christian cultures believe Christmas doesn’t end until January 6th, known as Epiphany, the date commemorating Wisemen from a far East country visiting baby Jesus in Bethlehem. Since learning about Epiphany, we wait until then to start taking down our Christmas memories.
This morning, in our couple devotional, Ron and I read Matthew 2, the passage documenting the visit of the Magi as well as events following their encounter with the Christ child.
Since my word for 2024 is DISCOVER, today’s reading led me to consider the story a little differently.
First, I pondered how God prepared these men even before their birth to make the incredible journey.
The Wisemen’s fascination with and necessary resources to research astronomical curiosities in such ancient texts as the writings of Jewish prophets like Isaiah was given to them by God. Desire for the mysterious motivated them to set off on an expedition to find the infant who was prophesied to become “the king of the Jews.” When they followed the unusual star in the East, they unknowingly became important figures in the story of Christmas.
Next, I thought about how God equipped these men with the gift of discernment. They didn’t succumb to the deceptive cunning of a political giant, King Herod. Rather, they listened with their spirits and heeded an interior nudge to return a different direction.
I was reminded that when we embrace our God design, take necessary action steps to develop good habits and hone talents and skills, we not only benefit. All those with whom our lives intersect also profit. Like the Wisemen, benefits of our choices will impact subsequent generations.
(As a side note, I recalled a commentary I once read that said the valuable gifts of the Magi—gold, frankincense, and myrrh—financially enabled Mary, Joseph, and Jesus to travel to Egypt and spend whatever time was necessary in that country in order to escape the genocide of baby boys King Herod ordered.)
Finally, I ask. What can I—an ordinary grandma living in North Idaho during the 21st Century—take away from this remarkable story? One of the things Ron and I concluded this morning was that God is sovereign and knows our entire story. We can trust God’s plan for each of us. All we need to do is keep saying “yes” to God, no matter how small that “yes” feels. While this seems quite simple, the process is a lifetime of learning lessons about what it looks like to say, “Okay, God, what next?”
I hope these Epiphany musings generate some of your own thoughts.
Blessings on our journeys,
