What's Your Epiphany?

”When they saw the star, they were overjoyed. On coming to the house, they saw the child with his mother Mary, and they bowed down and worshiped him.”  Matthew 2:10-11

Several weeks ago I wrote about seeing God in our daily lives, looking for the “tiny treasures” planted along our way by the Father who loves us.  Yesterday was Epiphany, a day on the liturgical church calendar 12 days after Christmas that celebrates the Magi’s arrival in Bethlehem.  The magi knew there was supposed to be a god born around the time of Jesus’ birth.  When they saw the star appear, they went searching.  They were looking for God – they had their eyes open – they were watching for the signs.  

Now the word has taken on a broader meaning than the name of a holy day.  It means “a manifestation of a divine being; a moment of sudden revelation or insight.”  As part of the first half of the definition, it means the revelation of God the Son as a human being in Jesus Christ.

As part of our Epiphany celebration at church, we are looking for God as we go through our days.  You have to keep your eyes open.  You have to be aware that God is working in the world. 

 •Some of these “manifestations” may be a gift given to us all.  Light, beautiful light, is always a manifestation of Jesus to me.  

•Some epiphanies are specific to us as individuals: I got to see God working at a family gathering where a difficult person admitted some of his/her faults.  I also saw this person have an epiphany of their own while considering those faults.  

•I think epiphanies are likely when we are studying or pondering God’s word.  I had an epiphany about being thankful in all things recently while doing my Bible study.   

•Another kind of epiphany will occur to you after you’ve seen it.  Maybe you’re busy at the time or preoccupied and can’t “see” what’s right in front of you.  But if you think back over your day for how you might have seen God, you can recognize it.  

If you see or remember any recent epiphanies, post on the blog about it.  I’d love to hear how God manifests Himself to other people.