Epiphany 2007
John Michael Talbot

Epiphany! Basically it means "the appearing." It also means, "The appearance of light." Of course for Christians this means the appearance of Jesus, who is the "light of the world." Even in secular culture, we hear someone say "I had an epiphany," which usually means a revelation, or some greater appearance or truth.

The roots of this Christian feast are obscure, along with the origins of celebrating Christmas. But obscure beginnings did not impede a steady development in the Church that has deep significance for us today. As it developed in the Church, Epiphany came to be associated with the appearance of Jesus in His birth and baptism. As Christmas and the Baptism of the Lord came to be celebrated as separate feasts, Epiphany came to primarily mean the adoration of the Magi before the newborn King of the Jews. So it stands today.

The appearance of the Magi has great significance. These were wise men from the East. They brought three gifts, and tradition assigns names to three wise men. But scripture says nothing about there being only three Magi. The Magi were from the East and were probably well versed in the scriptures and other methods of the various religions of the East.

Universal

As such the wise men can represent all the religious and philosophical traditions of the world. They also represent that Jesus is not only for the Jews to whom He was first born, but also for the entire world, Jew and Gentile alike. God is no longer a God for just one nation and people.

Complement

The Magi of other faiths find Jesus, not just through Old Testament scripture, but through the methods of their own faith.

Jesus complements all the religions of the world. Vatican II teaches that while full revelation of God is found in Jesus, all other religions prepare the way for Him, contain "seeds of the Word" in their scripture, which is also inspired in many places by the Holy Spirit. We would say that other religions are inspirational, but only the Judeo/Christian faiths are formal Revelation, and Jesus is the most complete Revelation for humanity. Moreover there are those who Karl Rahner called, "anonymous Christians," or those who know Him through prayer, but do not yet know His name.

All great religions seek a truth greater than that initially apparent to the human eye. They teach a basic faith about the spiritual realm of creation, humanity, angels and gods, and even the one God. They also teach a basic morality that comes from obedience to and harmony with this deeper spiritual reality. While we differ on some things, we agree on a great many as well. Great headway is being made through Interfaith Dialogue regarding cooperative efforts among various religions working together in a world quickly moving away from God.

But almost all of them go on from these basics to teach some form of mysticism that enters into the great Mystery, not only through objective teachings about faith and morality, but also through the pure intuition of the spirit that is beyond ideas, images, and words, yet clearly reveals a deeper truth. This truth enters the realm of paradox where the word is found in silence, communion in solitude, mission through stillness, wealth in poverty, freedom through obedience, and so on. These paradoxes move us beyond logic, while revealing a deeper reality that the human spirit immediately recognizes as profoundly true. Here we find a common ground beyond doctrine that is written deep into the soul of all people. Great strides are being made by the Monastic Interfaith Dialogue and other monastic groups to underscore these more mystical and experiential levels.

Though not explicitly mentioned in scripture, the fathers have taught that this paradox is implied in the gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh the Magi brought to Christ. Some have said that gold is for the Poor One, frankincense for a King, and myrrh for His death and burial. This is a newborn King, but He is not like other earthly kings. He is a King who will find and live the paradox of wealth in poverty. Most importantly, He will live and share new life in death. In this the new born King complements the faith of the Magi who find Him through their own contemplation of God through the stars.

Completion

But Jesus also completes other faiths. Those who come from the East find Him through their own religious and philosophical methods, but ultimately they bow down before the little Christ Child and pay Him homage. All leads to Jesus. Not because of some self righteous religious pride (my religion is better than your religion), but because Jesus simply IS the paradoxical REALITY that all religions point towards and experience to some degree through their faith, morality, and mysticism.

Jesus complements all the great religious and philosophical teachers who went before him. But He completes them in a way that none before Him ever dreamed possible. All the holy ones who came before Him pointed the way to the Paradox. Essentially the Buddha said, "Don't look at me, for I am just a finger pointing to the moon. Look at the moon." Jesus did much the same when He said that He can do nothing apart from the Father, so look to the Father.

But Jesus not only points to and teaches the way, He actually IS "the way, the truth, and the life." He does this not by some religious or philosophical ego trip. He does this by simply Being the dying and rising. He no longer just teaches the paradox that awakens and enlightens like all other good and great teachers. He becomes, or rather IS the Paradox. He IS the awakening. He IS the enlightenment. This He is not by pride, but by humility, not by logical argument, but by loving mercy, not by method or technique, but by simply living, dying, and rising.

The People of God

But there is a further "appearing," and "epiphany" of which we also need to be aware. It is our own appearing in Christ to all those around us. St. Paul says in Romans 8 that all creation waits for the revelation of the sons and daughters of God to be set free. Once we experience the appearing of Jesus who teaches us regarding faith, morality, and mysticism, we can actually BE these realities to others. This is not so much a matter of talking about Jesus as it is a matter of simply living Jesus. As Jesus IS the Paradox, so we must simply BE Jesus for others. This is the new evangelization of John Paul II.

It has been said that the simple presence of twelve fully enlightened people in the world creates enough positive energy to keep the world from self destructing. There were twelve apostles. Are there twelve today who will actually allow Jesus to fully appear in their lives and so keep the world from imploding upon itself? I hope so. Indeed, I know it to be so.

Has this Reality appeared in your life? If not, let Jesus take you there. Let Him appear in your life. Then you can appear with the deeper love of God to everyone in your life.

In Jesus,
John Michael Talbot
Founder, Spiritual Father and General Minister
The Brothers and Sisters of Charity at Little Portion Hermitage