The Epiphany of Our Lord Jesus Christ. 4 January 2026
The Rev’d Lucy Nguyen
Readings: Isaiah 60:1-6; Ps 7s:1-7,10-14; Ephesians 3:1-12; Matthew 2: 1-12
Today we conclude the Christmas Season as we mark the Epiphany of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Epiphany from the Greek for “manifestation or appearance,” is an ancient Christian feast (Jan. 6) celebrating Jesus’s divinity revealed to the world, encompassing his birth, baptism, and the Magi’s visit.
In other words, the feast of the Epiphany celebrates the various ways Christ revealed himself to the world, with the visit of the Magi symbolizing his universality.
While we in the West tend to focus primarily on remembering and celebrating the arrival of the Magi, those mysterious and devoted Wise Men who travelled far to welcome the Christ and offer their gifts.
Our readings assist us in refreshing how we see and understand Jesus. This morning’s readings reveal him through different lenses, with the lectionary readings for Epiphany in Year A specifically emphasizing the theme of inclusivity and the global reach of God’s saving grace.
Our Gospel reading from Matthew 2 is the primary narrative for the Epiphany, for revealing Christ’s divine nature to all people.
The Magi (often seen as the “first fruits of the Gentiles”) were non-Jewish wise men or astronomers who followed a star to worship the newborn Jesus, acknowledging his kingship and divinity. Their presence demonstrates that God’s revelation extends beyond the chosen people of Israel to all nations and races.
We see Jesus as the Universal King, Priest, and Saviour for all nations, manifesting/revealing his divine glory through the Magi’s adoration.
The act of the Magi, wise men/astrologers from the East, [remembering they were Gentiles/non-Jews] following a star to find Jesus, shows he is the promised Messiah for all people, not just Israel.
Their gifts—gold – kingship, frankincense – priesthood/divinity, and myrrh -foreshadowing his death —proclaim Jesus’ multifaceted divine identity and purpose.
The star they followed symbolizes divine guidance, for revealing Christ to the world.
The Ephesian 3 reading also highlights Christ’s universal inclusion of Gentiles. Paul explains the “mystery” hidden for ages: that Gentiles are fellow heirs with Israel, part of the same body, sharing the same promise in Christ.
Christ brings peace, breaking down barriers, making salvation accessible to everyone, far and near.
Psalm 72 also speaks of a king who will bring justice and peace to all peoples, from “sea to sea,” reinforcing the global scope of his reign.
Christ’s glorious reign of justice and peace for the poor and oppressed is a fulfilment of a prophecy as is his bringing light to the world. The Psalm writer prophesies a king who will bring justice, rescue the poor and needy, and rule with equity and righteousness. He predicts kings from distant lands (Tarshish, Sheba) bringing gifts and all nations serving him, echoing the Magi’s visit.
This First Testament prophecy in Isaiah 60 foretells a future where nations and kings from the East, i.e., Gentiles, will come to the light of Jerusalem, bringing their riches to honour God. This is interpreted as a foretelling of the Magi’s visit.
Jerusalem, representing Christ’s new people, shining with divine light as nations and kings come from afar, bearing treasures and worshipping, again shows universal recognition Jesus the Christ.
In essence, these readings on the 12th day after celebrating the birth of Jesus, reveal Jesus as the divine light who manifests God’s glory to the entire world, calling all nations to worship him as King and find salvation and justice in him, fulfilling ancient prophecies of universal redemption.
We are this morning repeatedly reminded of the theological understanding of Universal Redemption, that Christ’s salvation is offered to all people, not exclusively to the Jewish people.
The central message is that the redemptive work of Jesus Christ is a light meant to illuminate the entire world, breaking down ethnic and cultural barriers.
I find this notion inspirational and useful at the start of our year and particularly interesting as it is set against both historic and present-day backdrops of prejudice, religious pride, presumed preference and exclusivity.
The celebration of Epiphany encourages believers to recognize Christ as the Saviour of the world and to reflect this light in their own lives, spreading the message of salvation to all people. What does it mean for your faith that the Jesus’ revelation was not just for Isreal, but for everyone?
As you prepare for a new year where do you find yourself?
The Magi didn’t have maps (1); they followed a star.
In faith – have you been traveling by intention or by reaction to whatever has come your way?
The Wise Ones did not travel alone. (1)
They gazed, with others in the same direction. Sharing their wisdom, faith and questions.
What’s capturing your attention and energies?
With whom and how are your sharing your faith as you make your way?
In this season of Epiphany, the decorations of Christmas are put away, and we are invited to well and truly step into the New Year. As Christians we are invited to refresh, re-engage with God through Christ universal.
If we let Christ in and involve the Spirit in our lives, your life will gradually take on a different tone and open in new ways.
As we listen to God’s wisdom and compassion there will be moments of insight, consolation, and inspiration that will guide you along the way.
As we live life open each day to Jesus’ coming to us in different ways you will notice things you hadn’t noticed before, recognising the seeds of life placed in your path, the beauty before your eyes, the encounters that carry a great blessing when you welcome them.
If you live trusting in and responding to the promptings of God’s spirit within you, you will be led to do things that will open new doors for you and bring unexpected blessings into your life and the lives of others as God sends you to them.
And interestingly, I believe, as we are open to the ways God’s aroha is present in our challenges, we will find ourselves becoming deeper, freer, more peaceful and more generous people. (2)
You may very well find that things start to fit together and discover or rediscover that we are being led on a journey which brings us alive.
Several years ago in a different parish, a parishioner shared with me what may be familiar to some of you, a poem by Louise M. Haskins.
It “became famous when it was quoted by King George VI in his 1939 war-time Christmas broadcast to the British Empire. The words struck a powerful chord with a country facing the uncertainly of war. It still [mindful that the language is a bit dated] speaks to each of us in all of life’s uncertainties, promise and mystery.”
And I said to the man who stood at the gate of the year
“Give me a light that I may tread safely into the unknown”
And he replied
“Go out into the darkness and
put your hand into the hand of God
That shall be to you better than light
and safer than a known way.”
So I went forth, and finding the hand of God,
trod gladly into the night.
And He (God) led me towards the hills
and the breaking of day
in the lone East.
Louise M. Haskins (2)
As we go forth into the year
let us go together,
led by the light and love of the God of universal love,
and our path will be made known as we go.
Thanks be to God,
Amen.
Sources included
(1)Jan Richardson. Epiphany.
https://paintedprayerbook.com/2011/12/31/epiphany-blessing-for-those-who-have-far-to-travel/
https://paintedprayerbook.com/2008/01/06/the-feast-of-the-epiphany-magi-and-mystery/
https://paintedprayerbook.com/2010/12/30/epiphany-where-the-map-begins/
(2) Ampleforth Abbey. Gate of the year PDF.
https://www.ampleforthabbey.org.uk/sites/default/files/resources/Gate%20of%20New%20Year.pdf