Happy Epiphany

Just as everyone has put the nativity sets and Christmas decorations away the church calender marks the arrival of the wise men on the scene. So as the world is tired of Christmas, which for the secular world started in October, we in the church are still supposed to be enthusiastic about this part of the story.

I am just musing today on the meaning of the word epiphany. It means a sudden revelation or insight and is used for today because Jesus was revealed to the wise men. Other significant moments in history which have been celebrated as epiphanies are Archimedes shout of "Eureka" (I have found it) when the answer came to him. Other scientific discoveries have been called an epiphany moment.
Whilst for western Christians, the feast primarily commemorates the coming of the Magi; Eastern churches celebrate the Baptism of Christ in the Jordan. In both traditions, the essence is the same: the manifestation of Christ to the world. In Roman catholic countries in Europe chalk is used to write the initials of the three magi over the doors of churches and homes. The letters stand for the initials of the Magi (traditionally named Caspar, Melchior, and Balthasar).   C + M + B + 2011
In 2010 I was in Spain in January. There epiphany day is called El Día de los Reyes (The Day of the Kings), i.e., the day when a group of Kings or Magi, arrived to worship and bring three gifts to the baby Jesus after following a star in the heavens. We saw many houses decorated with models and cardboard cutouts of the kings climbing up walls and on balconies. Traditional belief is that Melchior, Gaspar, and Balthazar, representing Europe, Arabia, and Africa, arrived on horse, camel and elephant, bringing respectively gold, frankincense and myrrh to the baby Jesus. Children leave their shoes ready for the Kings' presents before they go to bed on the eve of January 6. Sweet wine, nibbles, fruit and milk are left for the Kings and their camels. In Spain, children typically receive their presents on this day, rather than at Christmas.
At this time of year a sweet bread called Roscon is baked and served at special open air festivities. I was in the town square in Lorca in the Murcia region where they had baked the largest Roscon in the world!
But here the 6th January is just another working day while Scots wait for the next opportunity for a party which will be "Burns night" at the end of the month.   So back to work! And perhaps I will get an epiphany moment soon!
(P.S. Epiphany is a great excuse, as if anyone needs one, to read the famous poem about the Magi by TS Eliot - a poem which charts his personal journey to faith)