Epiphany
Epiphany
is January 6, 2017. It is also called “The
Manifestation of Christ to the Gentiles,” in The Book of Common Prayer. The Gospel appointed for the day is St.
Matthew 2: in that passage, we read of the coming of the Magi, the wise men
from the east, bearing gifts to present to the new King of the Jews.
“When Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Juda in
the days of King Herod, behold there came wise men from the East to Jerusalem,
saying: Where is He that is born King of the Jews? For we have seen His star in
the East, and are come to adore Him.”
The
foremost hymn concerning the event is “We three kings of Orient are.” It’s an
outstanding example of writing that is faithful to the biblical telling of the
story.
So,
on Epiphany we celebrate the coming of the Magi: ironically, pagans who were first
to recognize the light of the world who was sent to the Jews. When they came to Herod’s court, Herod
searchingly asked his advisors where this new king might be found. They could say that the prophecy concerned
Bethlehem. Back to the Magi for a
moment: the gifts they presented to
Jesus are held to be symbolic and worthy of a king. Because there were three
gifts named, we speak of three magi, although the scripture does not give their
number.
Interestingly,
because Epiphany marks the 12th day of Christmas, there are some
songs which are both sung during Christmastide and Epiphany. Bishop Jerry Ogles wrote an article a year or
so ago on Hymn #52 in the 1940 Hymnal, “As with gladness, men of old” pointing
out that it is used in both seasons. https://www.facebook.com/jerry.ogles/posts/10207066930328184 Like all Bishop Ogles’ writing, it is well
worth your reading time.
Dr.
Elizabeth DeWolfe, the music minister at All Saints’ Anglican Church, Prescott,
AZ, published a very interesting piece about Epiphany several years ago: “In
many ways, the music of Epiphany,” Dr. DeWolfe writes, “is setting the stage
for the oncoming Lenten season. The transition takes us from alleluias to more
solemn tunes. We seek the Light of Christ in Epiphany, and His Light is
possible through prayer and song for each of us.”
Another
well-known hymn, frequently used by Anglicans throughout the year at Morning
Prayer, is Charles Wesley’s “Christ, whose glory fills the skies.” It has numerous
scripture references to symbols of light embedded in the text, a few of which
are the following: John 1:9 concerning the “true light” in line two, references
to Isaiah 2:6 and Malachi 4:2 in line three about the “Sun of Righteousness.” Also,
the “Day-star” in line six is a direct reference to both Isaiah 14:12 and 2
Peter 1:19.
There
are numerous performances of all these hymns on www.youtube.com.
COMMENTARY
ON THE FEAST OF THE EPIPHANY (Roman Tradition)
“The
feast of the Epiphany, which was kept in the East and in certain Western
churches before being observed in Rome, seems to have been originally a feast
of the nativity; January 6, for those churches where it was kept, was the
equivalent of December 25 for the Roman Church. The feast of the Epiphany,
introduced at Rome in the second half of the fourth century, has become the
complement and, as it were, the crown of the Christmas feast. To-day the Church
celebrates the manifestation of our Lord to the whole world and the shining
forth in all its splendour of the Incarnation. St Leo, and with him all
Christian tradition, saw in the three Kings who hastened to Christ the first of
the Gentiles; they were a foreshadowing of the future and brought in their
train all the peoples of the world so that the mystery of the Epiphany, the
manifestation of Christ in the world, includes all the history of the world.
The Magi indicated the beginning of the mystery, but it has continued to unfold
as the Church has spread (Matins, second nocturn). That is the meaning of
Isaias’s magnificent prophecy which is appointed in to-day’s liturgy both for
the Epistle at Mass and the first nocturn of Matins. It is there referred to by
St Leo. In the Antiphon to the Magnificat at second Vespers the Church extols
these fruits and consequences of the Incarnation adding to the calling of the
three Kings mention of the wedding feast at Cana, a symbol of the union of our
Lord’s divinity with His humanity, and His baptism by John in the waters of the
Jordan, which heralded that of His children.”
Commentary
from St. Andrew Daily Missal, 1952 ed.
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