The Church celebrated the Epiphany of Our Lord on January 6th.
"Arise, shine; for your light has come!" (Isaiah 60: 1-6) A star leads the wise men to Him who is Wisdom incarnate and the bright Morning Star. In fulfillment of Scripture, the wise men come to worship Jesus bearing gifts of gold and frankincense and myrrh (Matthew 2: 1-12): gold, for He is the King of kings, incense, for He is the Son of God through whom our prayers arise to the Father; and myrrh, in token that He had come to suffer and die for our sins. The magi are the first from the nations to behold the Savior, thus revealing the mystery of Christ: "that the Gentiles should be fellow heirs, of the same body, and partakers of the promise in Christ through the Gospel" (Ephesians 3: 1-12).
The word Epiphany comes from the Greek epiphaneias which means "manifestation" or "appearance." In the Epiphany of Our Lord, God in man is made manifest. The Christian Church celebrates Epiphany on January 6th, after the twelve days of Christmas.
The Baptism of Our Lord is the feast for the First Sunday after the Epiphany. Our Lord is baptized to "fulfill all righteousness" (Matthew 3: 13-17). He partakes of a baptism for sinners in order that He might be our substitute and bear the judgment we deserve. Our sin becomes His sin. His righteousness becomes our righteousness. Baptized into Christ, we also become the children of God, the beloved of the Father.
The Transfiguration of Our Lord is the Last Sunday after the Epiphany. Jesus' glory as God shines with brilliant splendor in and through His human nature.
"Arise, shine; for your light has come!" (Isaiah 60: 1-6) A star leads the wise men to Him who is Wisdom incarnate and the bright Morning Star. In fulfillment of Scripture, the wise men come to worship Jesus bearing gifts of gold and frankincense and myrrh (Matthew 2: 1-12): gold, for He is the King of kings, incense, for He is the Son of God through whom our prayers arise to the Father; and myrrh, in token that He had come to suffer and die for our sins. The magi are the first from the nations to behold the Savior, thus revealing the mystery of Christ: "that the Gentiles should be fellow heirs, of the same body, and partakers of the promise in Christ through the Gospel" (Ephesians 3: 1-12).
The word Epiphany comes from the Greek epiphaneias which means "manifestation" or "appearance." In the Epiphany of Our Lord, God in man is made manifest. The Christian Church celebrates Epiphany on January 6th, after the twelve days of Christmas.
The Baptism of Our Lord is the feast for the First Sunday after the Epiphany. Our Lord is baptized to "fulfill all righteousness" (Matthew 3: 13-17). He partakes of a baptism for sinners in order that He might be our substitute and bear the judgment we deserve. Our sin becomes His sin. His righteousness becomes our righteousness. Baptized into Christ, we also become the children of God, the beloved of the Father.
The Transfiguration of Our Lord is the Last Sunday after the Epiphany. Jesus' glory as God shines with brilliant splendor in and through His human nature.