[0:00] The theme for the Feast of Epiphany is that God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son. The key word here is world. Epiphany is about God's desire to fill the earth with His glory and His righteousness.
[0:19] This was the promise and the covenant that He made with Abraham, as we read in Genesis chapter 12. Now the Lord had said to Abram, get out of your country from your family and from your father's house to a land that I will show you.
[0:35] And I will make you a great nation. I will bless you and make your name great and you shall be a blessing. I will bless those who bless you and I will curse those who curse you.
[0:47] And in you, all the families of the earth shall be blessed. The covenant made with Abraham is that he would be the father of a great nation.
[0:58] And from Abraham came Isaac and then Jacob, whose name was changed to Israel. And from Israel, the glory of the Lord was to extend to other peoples, other nations, so that the promise would be fulfilled, made to Abraham.
[1:16] And in you, all the families of the earth shall be blessed. Today, we celebrate the fulfillment of this covenant, this promise.
[1:27] Although Israel did not fulfill its mission and mandate, God did. God became man so that His light and His life might extend to the whole world.
[1:40] And this evening, we hear how the Magi, the wise men, men from Persia, follow a star to worship Christ, the King of all creation.
[1:53] The words of a 5th century church father, St. Peter Chrysologus, perfectly explains the significance of this Feast of Epiphany.
[2:03] Listen carefully to how he described the events of the Magi being led by a star to find Jesus the Christ. Today, the Magi find crying in a manger the one they have followed as He shone in the sky.
[2:21] Today, the Magi see clearly in swaddling clothes the one they have long awaited as He lay hidden among the stars. Today, the Magi gaze in deep wonder at what they see.
[2:35] Heaven on earth, earth in heaven, man in God, God in man. One whom the whole universe cannot contain, now enclosed in a tiny body.
[2:48] As they look, they believe and do not question. As their symbolic gifts bear witness. God so loved the world that He came for every human being, whether Jew or Gentile.
[3:21] God so loved the world that He came to bring light from darkness. God so loved the world that He came to bring life from death. And all who believe in Him are counted in the families of the earth that are blessed.
[3:39] As we are made heirs to the promise made with Abraham through Jesus Christ, our Lord. As the opening words from Isaiah chapter 60 remind us.
[3:53] Arise, shine, for your light has come and the glory of the Lord is risen upon you. For behold, the darkness shall cover the earth and deep darkness the people.
[4:05] But the Lord will arise over you and His glory will be seen upon you. The Gentiles shall come to your light and kings to the brightness of your rising.
[4:20] Amen. In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Ghost. Amen.