Of course, all the Sundays on the church calendar are for proclaiming
the Word of God, but personally I have always found the Gospels for
Epiphany and the following Sundays to be particularly meaningful,
whatever calendar one follows. After all the craziness of modern
Christmas observances and before the appropriate somberness of Lent, we
have a little time to pause and reflect upon some of the epiphanies or manifestations of
our Lord Jesus Christ.
We think of Christ's divine glory manifested to the Magi and of His first adult appearance at His Baptism. We recall events as simple as Christ turning water into wine and as dramatic as healing lepers and a centurion's servant. Depending on our lectionary, we may remember His teaching and rejection at Nazareth, His healings of those with various illnesses, and His power over unclean spirits. We think of the calling of disciples and even Jesus' Transfiguration on the mount.
All of these stories show Jesus of Nazareth as more than
merely a teacher and more than even a miraculous healer. They manifest Christ's
glory as the Son of God. They are earthly signs of His heavenly
identity. Furthermore, these manifestations call for an appropriate
response- the response of faith in Jesus as Messiah and divine Savior.
May His glorious appearances inspire us all to renewed affirmations of
faith!
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