Epiphany? What’s that?

So what does “epiphany” mean? I don’t generally turn to the dictionary for definitions of words of theological significance, but in this case I did. The American Heritage Dictionary proved quite helpful. I case you are wondering why I am using this dictionary, it is because it was the first one I found and I liked what it had. Epiphany is:

1. A Christian feast celebrating the manifestation of the divine nature of Jesus to the Gentiles as represented by the Magi, traditionally observed on January 6.
2. A revelatory manifestation of a divine being.
3. A sudden insight or intuitive understanding.

^{The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition}

The part of the definition I am most interested in is the last part the “sudden insight or intuitive understanding.” People often speak of having an epiphany, a flash of insight that makes everything make sense. In an interesting way each of our lectionary passages in Jeremiah, Ephesians, and John ties into the notion of epiphany. Each passage of scripture opens our eyes to something new, culminating with John’s declaration that the Christ, that God, became human for our benefit. The Christ came to help us remember the Original Good, and that it came before what St. Augustine called Original Sin.

This sermon has some tricky bits in it, or at least some bits that might be tricky. Stay with it to the end and let me know what you think. Did I get it right? Was I wrong? As always, I’m open to whatever you wish to tell me.

“Epiphany? What’s that?” St. Mark’s Presbyterian (to download, right-click and select “Save Link As . . .”)

Blessings,