Epiphany, January 6, 2019

Epiphany, or the Manifestation of Christ to the Gentiles, 

January 6th, 2019

In the third chapter of the Letter to the Ephesians, we hear St. Paul write:  "Unto me, who am less than the least of all saints, is this grace given, that I should preach among the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ."  (Ephesians 3:8) It is interesting for us to note that when we think of the Feast of the Epiphany, we think of the Three Wise Men (or Three Kings) bearing gifts to the new-born Messiah, and yet, here is St. Paul speaking of the "unsearchable riches of Christ."   In the eyes of the world, the gifts that the three wise men brought to the Christ Child were unsearchable riches:  ". .  . and when they had opened their treasures, they presented unto him gifts; gold, and frankincense, and myrrh." (St. Matthew 2:11)  These gifts presented to the Christ Child represented gifts of great wealth.  In the eyes of the world these gifts were of immense value.  And yet, the richest\, most valuable gift in that scene was not the gold, nor the frankincense, nor the myrrh . . . . rather, the most valuable gift in that event over two thousand years ago was the gift of that small helpless babe given to the world as a gift from God given to us on that first Christmas day.  And, as St. Paul says, the grace has been given to him and to each one of us to "preach the unsearchable riches of Christ" to the world.  In the eyes of the world the "unsearchable riches" would be identified as the gold . . . the frankincense . . . the myrrh.  To the world in which we live, "unsearchable riches" would include:  money; power; clothes; electronics; etc.  And yet when we look through our eyes of faith, if you will,  the true unsearchable richness is not seen by our eyes . . . because it is hidden.  Hidden in the manger some two thousand years ago . . . hidden in the guise of a poor, working-class family . . . hidden in a small innocent baby.  And yet, here is where the "unsearchable riches" were to be found.  And, just like most "treasures," they have to be searched for in order to be discovered.

St. Margaret of Scotland Anglican Church celebrates Mass each and every Sunday morning at 9:30 AM at the Chapel at Marquette Manor, which is located at 8140 N. Township Line Road on the Northwest side of Indianapolis.  Please join us for Mass as we worship our Blessed Saviour as God's family.  Join us as we listen to the Word of God as found in the King James Version of the Bible and use the 1928 Book of Common Prayer.  Take some time our of your busy lives and step outside of the ordinary in order to worship God in a reverent, traditional worship.  Receive Our Blessed Lord in Holy Communion to nourish and sustain you for the coming week.  And following Mass, join us for a wonderful Coffee Hour with all sorts of delicious treats.