The Church, I think in its wisdom, has 12 days of Christmas, which means – at least if your magazine drops through your door on time – it isn’t over yet. The 12th day is called The Epiphany.
Again, in its wisdom, between the celebration of the birth of Jesus and January 6th, the church holds four commemorations – that of Stephen the first Christian martyr (26th), of John the evangelist who wrote the fourth gospel (27th), of the Holy Innocents killed by Herod (28th) and the naming of the baby Jesus (1st January).
I am not telling you all this to be erudite (it is easy to look up and my church diary gives all the info!), but because one of the things I love about the Christian faith is that it covers all the reality of our world – its hope with all the joy there is when a baby is born; its injustices and grief when we see so many killed by hatred and war; and its visionaries who give us purpose. John the evangelist shows throughout his gospel that the love and light of God is stronger than the darkness we all sadly see.
And then the 12th day – The Epiphany, which is traditionally the day when the wise men got to the stable. I always smile at the thought that the wise got there a lot later than the simple shepherds! Epiphany is the day when “the glory of the Lord shall be revealed”. That phrase may ring a bell: it is the 4th Movement of Handel’s Messiah. If you know it, stop reading this and sing the tune and the words in your head, or even better listen to it, (as I am doing as I write this – practice what you preach etc). It is a challenge living our everyday life to lift our eyes to the heavens and for us to see the glory in the beauty around us and for those of faith the additional wonder of God behind it all. It is also a challenge for the church in its services week by week to even catch a glimpse of that glory – but we are called to try!
Whilst writing this, the chorus “And the glory of the Lord” has ended and moved onto the chorus “Unto us a child is born, a son is given” (sing that in your head next!). Handel gets it – the glory of the Lord shall be revealed is intimately linked with unto us a son is born – the first and the twelfth days of Christmas – brought together on one great festival, The Twelve Days of Christmas. I am hoping our Sunday nearest the Epiphany (11.00am, 4th January) will include these choruses – better than my sermon at revealing the glory of the Lord.
And now (of course!) Handel and I have moved onto the Hallelujah Chorus. Hallelujah indeed!
A Happy New Year to you all
Peter