Epiphany

Today is the Feast of the Epiphany – the day on which we collectively pack away our Christmas decorations, and children across Italy joyously celebrate the coming of the Befana. It marks the end of the Christmas season and the start of a new season in which we remember Jesus’ growth and development from a gentle baby in a manger to the full-grown Christ. At Epiphany we recall the Three Kings’ long journey to present their famous gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh to the Christ child, as is depicted beautifully below the rose window at St. Paul’s. 

Yet as familiar as we are with the oft-repeated story, we all too often forget that it does not end with the three great monarchs holding their gifts before the Holy Family. In favor of remembering this lovely idyllic scene, we tend to forget that it is followed immediately by one of the worst tragedies in the entire New Testament.

Take a few minutes to read Matthew’s 2^nd chapter, and you will be reminded quickly of two greatly overlooked narratives in the Epiphany story: (1) the brutal slaughter of all the baby boys of Bethlehem (remembered by the Church as the Holy Innocents) at the hands of King Herod, and (2) the resulting flight of the Holy Family to Egypt, cementing Jesus’ little-acknowledged status as a refugee of religious & political violence.

Although we have just turned the page to a new calendar year, we do not have to think back very far to remember the brutal mass-murders of innocent people around the world, and the frequently resulting refugee crises that occupied much of our attention in 2015. As much as we may wish otherwise, these horrors will not simply disappear from our world with the ringing in of a new year. A dear friend of mine put it this way last week:

“On this, the day the Church remembers the slaughtered Holy Innocents, we MUST confront the fact that we are still slaughtering holy innocents.”

This painting, by artist Leftaris Olympios of Cyprus, depicts the journey of the Holy Family as refugees in Egypt. It is on display at the Anglican Centre in Rome to mark the Centre's 50th anniversary this year. The boats and desperate refugees in the background represent the modern refugee crisis in Europe and around the world.

Amidst the great joys that we have shared this holiday season, let us be ever cognizant also of the great injustices that continue to inhabit our world. At St. Paul’s, as we constantly remember the journey of the Magi in our architecture, so we remember always the victims and refugees of violence in the remarkable ministry of the JNRC. Let us pray this week these words borrowed from the BCP Collects for Epiphany and Holy Innocents:

O God, by the leading of a star you manifested your only Son to the peoples of the earth:

Receive, we pray, into the arms of your mercy all innocent victims; and by your great might frustrate the designs of evil tyrants and establish your rule of justice, love, and peace.

Lead us, who know you now by faith, to your presence, where we may see your glory face to face; who lives and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.