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Across the Pastor’s Desk by Don Rose

The season of Christmas will come to an end on Jan. 6 with the Festival of the Epiphany of our Lord.

In many ways this is the forgotten festival of the Christmas season because of its fixed date and the few worshiping communities that celebrate the day unless it falls on a Sunday.

This festival day celebrates the coming of the magi from the east to give homage to the infant Jesus. It also marks the beginning of a season of Sundays after the Epiphany which become little epiphanies in their own right as the readings for these Sundays witness to the ways in which Jesus’ life and ministry manifest the in-breaking of God into human history and events.

The Gospel of Matthew says nothing about there being three magi, and the tradition of three developed because of the naming of the gifts that were given. Whatever the number, they would not have been traveling alone.

These magi were in all likelihood astrologers who tried to read the heavens to understand the events of the day. The light in the night sky was interpreted by them as a sign of significant happenings in Judea, far to the west. This was significant enough to cause them and their entourage to set out upon a long and dangerous journey.

For the gospel writer, the coming of the magi is a sign of the promise of the good news in Jesus that was for the whole world. The life and message of Jesus was not for a small, select group of people. Rather it was to be good news for all of humanity and for all of creation. The coming of the magi is but a glimpse of what would be the fulfillment of God’s promise for all.

The light in the night sky was like the light of dawn revealing the breaking in of a new day. Jesus would be seen as the light of the world, sharply revealing the truth of humanity and the world.

With that truth would come the possibility of forgiveness and a renewed relationship with God and with one another.

With Jesus as the light, nothing would remain hidden. Those who received the light realized that, on their own, they could not do what God was already doing in Jesus.

When humans knew that they were helpless, they were then open to receive the gifts of God’s grace and the freedom to live in the light and truth of Christ.

On Jan. 6, the Festival of the Epiphany of our Lord, take time to thank God for the gift of the gospel for everyone and for the light shining into the darkness of the world.

Don Rose is pastor of the Mansfield and United Lutheran churches.