The Epiphany Star

Epiphany is a Greek word meaning “appearing, showing forth, and/or shining forth.”  In the western Church, Epiphany is a celebration of the visit of Magi, who were guided by a star to the manger in Bethlehem.  That star, however, is mentioned in only one of the gospels (Matthew) and neither the star or the wise persons are ever mentioned again in any of the New Testament writings.  I don’t know why that is.  And it doesn’t really make any difference.  Matthew wrote to  and for the Jewish community and attempted to link everything about Jesus to the Old Testament.  I think the “Star” and the “Three Kings” story that has become so much a part of our story probably came from Isaiah 60:

“Arise, shine, Jerusalem, for your light has come; 

and over you the glory of the Lord has dawned.

Though darkness covers the earth and dark night the nations,

On you the Lord shines and over you his glory will appear;

Nations will journey towards your light and kings to your radiance.”

The star symbolizes and describes the meaning of Epiphany—the “shining forth” of light.  The star that Matthew alone writes about has become a cherished Christmas symbol for many of us and has inspired many of our Christmas hymns.  It even fits in with those creative words recorded in Genesis:  “Let there be light!”  It also makes John’s gospel sing:  “All that came to be was alive with his life, and that life was the light of men.  The light shines on in the dark, and the darkness has never mastered it.”  I like the “star” as a symbol of my Christmas story—it fits.

It fits in Matthew’s story and it fits our story in the 21st century.  Matthew wanted his Jewish brothers and sisters to know that it was not just “Jerusalem,” not just the Jewish people, who were to receive the light that the darkness cannot quench.  The star (the light), he wrote, led Gentiles (the Magi) to the manger.  Gentiles were hated, despised, considered unclean, unworthy, and unchosen by Matthew’s people. Matthew says this is no longer the case for the star has welcomed all people, all men and women.   The light shines on in the darkness and our human categories can no longer exist in the light.  The wolf will be with the sheep and the lion with the calf and they shall live in peace.  In the light of the star we, too, can visit that new life in the manger, and discover that that life, that that light, is in us all.  In the darkness of the year 1968, a “star” appeared in the form of the placards worn by the Black sanitation workers as they marched in peaceful protest in Memphis:  “I Am A Man!”  In the darkness of 2018, we, too, must follow the Light that shines on all and not just some.

Even in this photo of a few years ago, the star
appears, the light shines, and the wise persons
come, and the shepherds, and the donkeys, the sheep--and
the light shines on in the dark, and the darkness has
never quenched it!