“Eureka” exclaimed Archimedes when he discovered a method to estimate the volume of a given mass, an epiphany for him.   Isaac Newton had a Eureka moment in the 1680’s, when he realized that a falling apple and the orbiting moon are both pulled by the same force – gravity.  Both were scientists who had labored and studied for years before this moment of enlightenment, this discovery, this epiphany.

In our liturgical year we celebrated the Feast of Epiphany on January 6, marking the visit of the Magi to the infant Jesus.   These were learned men or magi, who probably had the responsibility of reading the stars for their king.  They believed that signs in the heavens portended great or terrible things to come and unusual movement of a stellar event indicated the birth of a king.  When the “star of the east” appeared, they knew the meaning.  It was a sudden realization, an epiphany, that the long-awaited Son of God had been born.  They were willing to endure any hardship to follow that star.

We are in the midst of the liturgical season of Epiphany.  Have you had a Eureka moment?  No, neither have I.  So what does epiphany mean to us?    I understand that during this season we make note of the bringing of the Word to the Gentiles.   We remember that Jesus was a Jew.  It was not always welcome news to the Jews that Jesus came equally for the Gentiles.    Who are the Gentiles?    A Gentile was defined not by who he was, but by who he was not.  So, a person who was not Jewish was a Gentile.   Aha, that includes you and me!

Bringing the Word to the Gentiles was a light to them, an epiphany.  Receiving God’s Word of salvation and unconditional love is a light to us, an epiphany!   We are not lost.  There is love, hope, peace, strength and mercy lighting our way.  You’ve heard it all before, it’s not a new and sudden realization.  But each time we ponder this unfathomable truth, we’re overwhelmed with the goodness of God.  In the words of Martin Luther, “This is most certainly true.”  Eureka!

Judy