Come and See

There’s a strange circular graphic posted on felt and placed on a stand in our sanctuary. It is a liturgical calendar. For those who grew up in “non-liturgical” congregations or not in church at all, the liturgical church calendar can be confusing and strange. But with open inquiry and curiosity, the church year can help us focus on Christ’s life and ministry in new and fresh ways.

Epiphany is one of the days on the liturgical calendar. It is officially January 6th each year, and most commonly celebrated on the closest Sunday (our congregation will celebrate Epiphany this week). Like Christmas, it is celebrated with the colors gold and white. It is a season of LIGHT testifying to Jesus as the LIGHT of the world. It is also the last day of Christmas season. Epiphany draws our attention to Christ’ manifestation to the three wise men or magi – Gentile people who were considered to be outside of the covenant faith community.

As the church has largely been a Gentile community, James Allen Wildeman writes, we tend to forget how shocking the inclusion of the Gentiles into the early church was. God gave Peter a vision to convince him that God was for all nations. The early church held a council to determine exactly how to receive the Gentiles. This was not a simple matter!

“Celebrating Epiphany, then,” writes Wildeman, “should help us understand the grace of God, who has seen fit to include those of us – who for centuries seemed to be excluded from the plan for salvation among the chosen people.” As we have received grace, so should we offer that grace to others – particularly those who might have been, or currently be, considered unwelcome.

Epiphany also reminds us of how the magi responded. They recognized that they were in the presence of the King and gave rich gifts in response. As Christmas reminds us of God’s gift to us in Christ, Epiphany reminds us of the appropriate response – worship, and the offering of our entire being.

Epiphany also reconnects us to our natural world. While the shepherds who heard the message of Jesus’ birth heard supernaturally from the angels, the magi saw a star, something in our natural universe, and inferred that a significant figure had been born. The discovery of the Christ was an outgrowth of their vocation, whereas for the shepherds it was more like an intrusion into their work day. Epiphany reminds us to look for the work of God in our natural, everyday lives, and to keep from dividing our lives into spiritual and natural realms.

These themes carry right into our reading from the Gospel of John this week. In it we read of John identifying and announcing who Jesus is, “the Lamb of God.” Hearing this, two of John’s disciples begin following Jesus and asking questions and Jesus responds to them with an invitation, “Come and see.” It is an invitation to come to Jesus, to know Jesus, to believe in Jesus and to testify to Jesus. To be welcomed in, included. And then to go out and include others. In this passage we read about individuals – Andrew, Phillip, Nathaniel – who are invited in and go out to invite others. Together they form a community, which becomes the church. A community that is called to bear witness to Jesus Christ, the Lamb of God, together in our collective life and worship. Our liturgical life, and specific days such as Epiphany, hopefully contribute to this witness by reminding us of the abundance of God’s grace toward us and calling us to embody that grace and abundance in our lives and in our welcome of others.

Blessings on your preparation for worship!

Works cited: https://www.reformedworship.org/resource/epiphany-what-do-we-celebrate