The Ouse Valley Benefice

Epiphany - Following the Star

As we mark the Festival of the Epiphany, we celebrate far more than just the end of the Christmas season. Epiphany - meaning 'an appearing' or a 'glorious display' - is the moment the Christmas message shines brightest: the revelation of Christ to the Gentiles. It is the heart of the Christian story, that ‘eureka’ moment where the light of the stable lights up the entire world.

The Magi from the east, representing the nations, followed a star. This celestial sign was their first revelation, catching their attention and drawing them to search for the newborn King. Their journey, however, came in stages. Seeing the star was just the beginning; they still had to seek counsel in Jerusalem before finally being led to Bethlehem.

This narrative invites us to ask: What is the ‘star’ that God is using to draw you in today? It may not be a physical star, but perhaps a meaningful conversation, a profound personal realization, or a specific passage of Scripture. It's anything that catches your attention and draws you into a search for God. Once you see that star, your role is to follow it, and like the Magi, to go deeper in your search for truth.

When the Magi found the Messiah, they presented gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh. For us, having received the gift of God’s Grace, the offering required is ourselves - our lives presented to acknowledge our newborn King and Saviour.

After seeing Jesus, the Magi returned home by another route, warned in a dream not to return to Herod. This is a profound metaphor for the Christian life. An authentic encounter with the light of Christ demands a change in direction. It requires a new path forward. So as the New Year begins, let us reflect: what is our new route? For me, that new path is mission. We are called to ‘Go and make disciples of all nations’ and to be ‘witnesses to the ends of the earth’. Having seen the light of Christ our Saviour once again, what will our mission be for the coming year?