Do You See What I See? The Feast of Epiphany

Said the night wind to the little lamb
Do you see what I see?
Way up in the sky little lamb
Do you see what I see?
A star, a star
Dancing in the night
With a tail as big as a kite
With a tail as big as a kite
(From “Do You Hear What I Hear?” by Gloria Shayne and Noel Regney

Today is joyous Epiphany! Did you almost miss it? Other people did...long ago. Although God chose to first reveal Himself to and through the Jews, the religious leaders were so busy deciding how many steps constitute work on the Sabbath that they didn't seem to care about the unusual star that appeared in the Heavens.Astrologers from the East, however, were watching. Led only by natural signs, not divine revelation, they were compelled to follow with open hearts. Hmmm...outright pagans found the Child. And at His feet they emptied their treasures and worshiped. Back in Jerusalem, the religionists still had their noses so glued to the right applications of Scripture that they missed the arrival of the Living Word.

Epiphany means "Manifestation; Appearing". The Twelve Days of Christmas have come to a close as the Church now turns her focus from the arrival of Christ in the world to His manifestation and revelation to the world--first, to the Gentile Magi and then at His Baptism.

The season of Epiphany begins tonight at sunset (the time of evening prayer) through the Presentation of Christ in the Temple (Candlemas) on February 2. In some cultures, the Christmas decorations and greenery are not taken down until Candlemas.

I grew up in a non-liturgical church and never heard of Epiphany, although Christians began observing it in 361A.D. However, it is important because it helps us understand the significance of the Magi’s worship, which can enrich our lives and witness in the world.I ask myself during this time, "What gifts did I give Jesus this past year? Were they the quality of the Wise Men's?

gold (costly)
myrrh (sacrificial)
and frankincense (a true heart of worship)

What about this year?

Can I leave my status and comfort, as they did, and travel to wherever God leads? Can I keep looking up, regardless of the difficult road before me? Can I humble myself before someone who appears "smaller or lesser" than me? Can I refuse the commands and enticements of a Herod? As a new year arrives, so does the opportunity to begin a renewed journey.

Epiphany also celebrates our Lord's "appearing/manifestation" as the Son of God as He stepped out of His baptism in the Jordan River and began His public ministry.

"Then Jesus came from Galilee to John at the Jordan to be baptized by him. John tried to prevent him, saying, ‘I need to be baptized by you, and yet you are coming to me?'

Jesus said to him in reply, ‘Allow it now, for thus it is fitting for us to fulfill all righteousness.' Then he allowed him.

After Jesus was baptized, he came up from the water and behold, the heavens were opened (for him), and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove (and) coming upon him.

And a voice came from the heavens, saying, ‘This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased'." (Matthew 3:13-17)

Epiphany observes beautifully Jesus Christ as Son of Man (identifying as one of us by becoming human in every way) to His unveiling as the Son of God.

So, what special celebrations are underfoot in the Goin household?

Honestly, I'm not much of a cook. But in years past, I’d call the bakery ahead of time and order a batch of star-shaped cookies, sprinkled with glittery-good sugar in three colors:

gold
red (frankincense-because it burns on coals)
blue (myrrh-although actually brown in appearance, it represents sacrifice. It was used to anoint bodies for burial; hence, the use of a “colder” color)Epiphany is celebrated is many colorful ways around the world:

The Dutch and Flemish call this day Driekoningen, while German speakers call it Dreikönigstag (Three Kings' Day). In the Netherlands, Belgium, Luxembourg and neighboring Germany, children in groups of three (symbolizing the three kings) proceed in costume from house to house while singing songs typical for the occasion, and receiving a coin or some sweets at each door. They may each carry a paper lantern symbolizing the star.

In some places, especially Holland, these troops gather for competitions and present their skits/songs for an audience. As in France, Koningentaart (Kings' tart), puff pastry with almond filling, is prepared with a bean or coin hidden inside. Whoever finds the bean in his or her piece is king or queen for the day. A more typically Dutch version is Koningenbrood, or Kings' bread.

In Britain, the celebration of the Night before Epiphany is known as Twelfth Night (The first night of Christmas is December 25–26, and Twelfth Night is January 5–6), and was a traditional time for mumming (a form of folk entertainment in which bands of masked and costumed merrymakers roam the streets singing, dancing, acting out stories, or simply engaging in horseplay) and the wassail. The Yule log was left burning until this day, and the charcoal left was kept until the next Christmas to kindle next year's yule log.

A traditional dish for Epiphany was Twelfth Cake, a rich, dense, typically English fruitcake. As in Europe, whoever found the baked-in bean was king for a day. Anything spicy or hot, like ginger snaps and spiced ale, was considered proper Twelfth Night fare, recalling the costly spices brought by the Wise Men. Another English Epiphany dessert was the jam tart, but made into a six-point star for the occasion to symbolize the Star of Bethlehem, and thus called Epiphany tart.

In the German-speaking lands, groups of young people called "Sternsinger" (star singers) travel from door to door. They are dressed as the three Wise Men, plus the leader carries a star, usually of painted wood attached to a broom handle. Often these groups are four girls, or two boys and two girls for the benefit of singing their songs in four-part harmony, not necessarily three wise men at all.

German Lutherans often note in a lighthearted fashion that the Bible never specifies that the "Weisen” (Magi) were men, or that there were three. The star singers will be offered treats at the homes they visit, but they also solicit donations for worthy causes.

Germans eat a Three Kings cake which may be a golden pastry ring filled with orange and spice representing gold, frankincense and myrrh and forming a crown. Or they may be made of typical rich Christmas bread dough with cardamom and pearl sugar in the same seven-bun crown shape. As in other countries, the person who receives the piece or bun containing the trinket or whole almond becomes the king or queen for a day.

Epiphany is also an especially joyful occasion for the young and young at heart as this is the day dedicated to plündern – that is, when Christmas trees are "plundered" of their cookies and sweets by eager children (and adults), and when gingerbread houses and any other good things left in the house from Christmas are devoured.

The Irish call Epiphany the Feast of the Epiphany or traditionally Little Christmas or "Women's Christmas" (Irish: Nollaig na mBan). On the feast of the Three Kings, the women of Ireland in times gone by had a bit of rest and celebration for themselves, after the cooking and work of the Christmas holidays. It has long been a custom for women to gather this day for a special high tea.

Today, Irish women may spend the day shopping, take a meal at a restaurant or spend the evening gathering in a pub. Women may also receive gifts from children, grandchildren or other family members on this day. Other Epiphany customs are popular in Ireland, such as the burning of the sprigs of Christmas holly in the fireplace which have been used as decorations during the past twelve days.

In other countries, children leave grass and water by the door for the Magi’s camels on Epiphany Eve. They awake to find gifts from the travelers. House blessings are common on this day as well.

Johann Sebastian Bach composed two cantatas for the feast:

Sie werden aus Saba alle kommen, BWV 65 (1724)
Liebster Immanuel, Herzog der Frommen, BWV 123 (1725)

Part VI of his Christmas Oratorio, Herr, wenn die stolzen Feinde schnauben, was also designed to be performed during the service for Epiphany.

And of course, we’re all familiar with “We Three Kings of Orient Are”, written in 1857 by Rev. John Henry Hopkins, Jr., an Episcopal deacon. (Wikipedia)

Regardless of the activities associated with the celebration of Epiphany around the world, the most important thing is why we choose to observe this special day: We are thankful for the call to "whosoever will" to come from afar and worship the Messiah.

In the middle of the world's turmoil, a light still shines; and as it has been said many times, "only the wise see it". Epiphany is a time to pray for wisdom--an ability to see and be led by God. It is a day to examine the goods we bring along on the journey...for just as gifts were laid at the feet of a lowly Child, so they will be one day be laid at the feet of our glorified King.

Have a blessed Epiphany! Enjoy your merrymaking, and may the Lord ever increasingly manifest in and through your lives in 2014!