How do we hear these Christmas stories? What are we hearing? Do we assume we know the story? Allow me to repeat what I said at the beginning of Advent: “We are hearing the readings again for the first time.” The text of Scripture remains the same; you and I have changed. The depth of our belief may have changed. Faith may be deeper or shallower. We may be hearing these readings after experiencing loss or sadness. We may be hearing these readings at a time in life when change, for better or for worse, seems imminent. You may be hearing these texts after having your own child or while expecting your own child. How is God showing, or not showing, himself to you today?
The Meaning of Epiphany
Today is the great feast of the Epiphany. The word Epiphany means “to show” or “to manifest.” Today’s feast is more catechetical than historical. This means the story is teaching us about Jesus. The story is addressing the identity of Jesus through the use of symbols. The liturgy recognizes three major epiphanies: the Arrival of the Magi, the Baptism of the Lord, and the Wedding Feast of Cana.
In many ways, this feast is like a summation of the whole Gospel story. The entire Gospel shows us Christ. The ultimate question that the entire Gospel addresses to us, after telling us about Jesus, is “Who is Jesus?” For the Gospel, Jesus is the Messiah, the Savior, the Redeemer, and above all else, Jesus is God made flesh. If you were asked, “Who is Jesus?” how would you answer?
Manifestation to the World
If the celebration of Christmas was an epiphany to the shepherds and to the people of Israel, then today’s feast has a universal theme. Today is the manifestation of Christ to the world. The world is represented by gold, God is represented by frankincense, and the suffering servant who would die for his people is represented by myrrh.
The Mystery of the Incarnation
The mystery of the Incarnation of God among us in the humanity of Jesus is so great an event that words, celebrations, poetry, music, or art cannot adequately express its complete meaning. In the mystery of the Incarnation, we see that humanity can be a vehicle, a carrier, a minister of the divine. God is made present through human relationships. The Incarnation continues in the Body of Christ, also known as the Church. Those in a relationship with Christ in his day were encountering and interacting with God.
Thus, it is in and through our humanity—baptized into the Body of Christ, nourished by the Eucharist, in prayerful conversation with God, anointed by the Holy Spirit—that we manifest Christ to the world. It is through our frail humanity that mercy, love, kindness, justice, truth, peace, joy, etc., are carried to our respective worlds of home, work, and school. Because of the Incarnation, we carry God to a waiting world.
Living the Incarnation
Yes, through the Incarnation, God touches a broken, weak, dirty, sinful, imperfect humanity and brings healing and reconciliation. When believers in the Incarnation live their faith in every circumstance, then Christ is manifested to the world.
Msgr. Guy A. Massie
January 4, 2026
Readings for The Feast of the Epiphany