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!
Are you enjoying these Twelve Days of Christmas? Do you know
how the popular tradition started?
Christians sincerely wanted to find the accurate birth date of Christ, but
they faced challenges once they separated from Judaism. The religion followed a
twelve month/thirty day lunar calendar that had to be adjusted every so often
with a new month by the Sanhedrin's decree.
Greek Christians in the East followed their own solar calendar, which put
observance days at odds with their brethren in the West who followed the
calendar of the Roman Empire.
In 300 A.D., the Roman calendar superseded the Greek. However, the Eastern
churches still marked the birth of Christ on January 6.
Although Christians in the Roman Empire began celebrating the Nativity
around 380 A.D., Eastern Christians considered Epiphany to be a greater feast.
To them, the day commemorated two Incarnational appearances--at the
beginning of Jesus' life and at the beginning of His ministry (the day he was
baptized and His divine Sonship proclaimed--Matthew 3:13-17).
By the way, though most manger scenes portray the Magi worshiping Jesus right along with the Shepherds, Scripture points to a later time (up to two years) when they arrived. The Bible does NOT mention the number of Magi who visited Jesus, but only three gifts.
"And when they had come into the house they saw the young
child with Mary, his mother, and fell down and worshiped Him..."
(Matthew 2:11)
"Then Herod, when he saw that he was mocked by the wise men, was
exceeding wroth, and sent forth, and slew all the children that were in
Bethlehem and in all the coasts thereof, from two years old and under,
according to the time which he had diligently inquired of the wise men."
(Matthew 2:16)
Christians in the West eventually embraced the Feast of the Epiphany.
However, since December 25 was already an established date to honor the birth of
Christ, churches in the region commemorated January 6 as the appearing of the star that guided the
arrival of Gentile Magi.
Hence, the Twelve Days of Christmas
from The Nativity (evening December 25) to Epiphany (the evening of January 6).
This is traditionally a season of great rejoicing for Christians--full of
merriment, food, games and music. Children dress up and put on plays, gifts are
given on each of the days (better than Santa's one night, huh?) and don't
forget the delicious Wassail!
Amid this festive time, however, there are three days that call believers
to what seems a contradictory somberness...observances that at first seem
awkward and out of place.
December 26--The Feast of Stephen, honoring the Church's first adult
martyr
(Remember the song, Good King Wenseslaus? He looked out "on the Feast
of Stephen".)
December 27--The Feast of St. John, honoring the beloved disciple
December 28--The Feast of the Holy Innocents, honoring all the male
children of Bethlehem and surrounding regions, two years old and younger, who
were slaughtered by order of Herod--Christendom's first martyrs.
Church tradition tells us that John was the only disciple to die a natural
death at a ripe old age. So why is he included?
The early Church tied them together this way:
Stephen- a martyr in blood, will, and love
John-a martyr in will and love
Innocents-martyrs in blood
The Church notes John's imprisonment, banishment to Patmos, and the
unsuccessful attempts to first poison then burn him alive in a vat of searing
oil. Yet toward the end of his life, his message remained the same: "Love
one another". He was a living martyr!
In other words:
All believers are called to die UNTO Christ every day (like John).
Many persecuted Christians die FOR
Christ everyday around the world (like Stephen).
Some people die BECAUSE of Christ
(like the Bethlehem children).
Dying because of Christ is often not an act of one’s will. It falls upon a
person(s) in a certain place under extraordinary circumstances because evil
attempts to destroy what is good and innocent in the earth.
Innocent people, such as the children at Sandy Hook Elementary School in
Connecticut, suffer and die because of the wickedness that for now,
works through sick people who assume power—whether it’s through a
parent’s gun or a corrupt
government.
But God knows and loves every victim, and He keeps records of each deed. At
the end of human history, when not only these acts but the consequences of each
one has rippled through time, He will execute flawless justice on their behalf
for all the world to see.
Still…why are Christians called to mingle martyrdom and mirth during this
season?
Look at the gifts brought to the Christ child--gold, frankincense and
myrrh.
The Christian life is not either/or but both/and---meaning
we experience joy and suffering, triumphs and tragedies. Christian
author and Pastor Rick Warren once described life as having two train
tracks--opposite, yet always running parallel. Both are necessary or the train
will derail.
We may be celebrating in one area of our life, only to be deeply afflicted
in another at the same time. Life is a blend of the divine gifts to us of gold
(victory and gain), frankincense (joy and peace), and myrrh (bitterness and
loss).
These feast days were not spent in quiet introspection, though.
On St. Stephen's Day, it was--and remains in many parts of the world--a day
for giving food, money, and other items to service workers and the needy. In
some places, it is known as "Boxing Day" since gifts are boxed up and
delivered. The custom follows the heart of a deacon, like Stephen, to serve.
The blessing of wine is associated with St. John's Feast. The head of each
household takes home a portion of consecrated wine and shares it in the name of
St. John with members of the family. Each person receives affirmation in the
form of a spoken blessing. The wine is then taken to the sick and distressed.
The Feast of the Holy Innocents is also called Childermas (Mass of
the Children).
It honors our children as little brothers and sisters in the Lord. A fun custom
is for the youngest child to be "in charge" for the day. He or she
decides the day's foods, drinks, music, and entertainments. (If you have more
than one child, it may be wise to divide these honors!) The classic Coventry
Carol, speaks of the Bethlehem sacrifices.
Christians who still observe this feast often include the millions of
aborted babies with the Holy Innocents in their prayers, acknowledging that the
dynamics that drove Herod to infanticide--along with the likes of Pharaoh
(Exodus 1)—still rise up against all that is honest, just, pure, lovely, good, and virtuous in the earth. (Philippians 4:8)
It is a time of intercession and spiritual warfare against the
forces that seek to weaken each new generation…robbing a needy world of its
future healers, inventors, musicians, and philosophers.
It saddens the heart to think of the deaths of these innocent children, but
we can be glad that they are now in the presence of God and nurtured by the
Church at rest. One day they will return to earth with Him in glory!
Until then, let's be thankful for the bitter and the sweet! God
works all things out for our good and His eternal purposes. A young man who was
one of the chief persecutors of the church attended the stoning of Stephen and
even held the coat of one of the executioners. He later converted and wrote
most of the New Testament. His name was Paul.
Throughout our lives, we will drink from many cups, but the love of Christ
can overcome the "poison" as it did for John. Therefore, go ahead…dare
to rejoice through the bitter and the sweet! Sing the silly "Twelve Days
of Christmas" and try to remember who leaps, who pipes, and who dances.
And
don’t forget to raise a Wassail toast for me!
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! 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.
For many Christians, today’s observance
will never come to mind. 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.
Most anger scenes include the Wise Men from the East, but they actually arrived
about two years later to the house of Joseph (Matthew 2:11). Remember, Herod
had male children two years old and under executed, hoping to kill Jesus in the
slaughter.
How amazing to think that gentile royalty, led from afar, brought gifts and
worshiped Jesus as the King of Kings. I always 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 arduous 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 an Incarnate Child, so they will be laid at the
end of our lives 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!
