Epiphany: The Blessed Journey of the God-Seeking Person

The Babe of Bethlehem

Today is Epiphany. An ancient festival of setting out on pilgrimage to seek the face of God. The tradition is birthed in the story of the Magi who leave Persia to follow the sign of a newly appearing star. It is a journey of faith. Leading them through strange and unknown lands to a humble manger where they offer obeisance to a baby king. Gifts of gold, incense, and myrrh representing love, yearning and suffering are left at the manger bed. Then they go off into the night with rapturous hearts because their journey ended well.

Today Epiphany still speaks if we calm our worried hearts. We can still seek after God and meet Him at the manger bed if we are determined (to “will one thing” as Kierkegaard once advised). If we leave distraction, bitterness and anger behind, the fruits of wisdom, hope and compassion burgeon at the manger stall. But we must set out resolutely. Not to be dissuaded by the alluring attractions of Vanity Fair.

A learned voice from the academy encourages us to set forth with brave hearts and make our pilgrimage of faith:

“This feast speaks to us and says: Behold, God is present, still quiet and gentle, just as the spring remains in the tiny seed, quiet and certain of victory, hidden under the wintry earth, yet already more powerful than all the darkness and all the cold. Epiphany is the feast that announces: God is here. God has become a person. He has entered into the poverty and the narrow confines of our life. God has so loved us that he has become one of us.” (Karl Rahner)

Let us not be dismayed. It is not too late to seek after the Holy One (even though the enemy whispers it is!). This new year of 2025 can be your year. Our year. Let us join with the Magi of old with decided hearts and know the gift of God’s love as revealed in the Babe of Bethlehem.