Q & A Catechism > Part 15: What Is The Epiphany?

Q: What is the “Epiphany?”
A: You may have heard someone say the phrase, “I had an epiphany.” What the person means is that he or she had a moment of sudden insight or revelation as if a “lightbulb” went off in the person’s head. What’s ironic, in terms of the “lightbulb” when it relates to the spiritual realm, is that the light has come into the world in Jesus Christ not just at Christmas, but also in the event of the first Epiphany, as well as two other events that manifested God’s presence in Jesus Christ that will be explained further below in a Catechism quote. The first of three epiphanies is celebrated on Jan. 6th (moved this year to Sunday, Jan. 7th) when kings, (“We Three Kings”), wisemen, or magi as found in Mt. 2: 1-12, 16, came to adore the newborn king – the King of Kings and Lord of Lords in Jesus Christ. The reason why we associate having three kings is because of three gifts that were offered to him: gold, frankincense, and myrrh (Mt. 2:11).  Gold signifies a treasure given that is fit for a king. Frankincense refers to the offering of prayer that rises up to the Father in and through Jesus Christ, and myrrh is used to anoint the dead. How prophetic it is that Jesus was given the gift of myrrh at his birth. It points to the anointing he will be given following his death by crucifixion, because the purpose of Jesus’ birth was to die for us. While we use the word “kings” or “wisemen,” to refer to the visitors of Jesus at the epiphany, another word that has been used interchangeably is “magi.” “Originally, the word, magi, refers to a designation of the Persian priestly caste. The word, magi became used of those who were regarded as having more than human knowledge. Matthew’s magi from Mt. 2 are astrologers” (Source: www.usccb.org).

The Catechism states further: “The Epiphany is the manifestation of Jesus as Messiah of Israel, Son of God and Savior of the world. The great feast of Epiphany celebrates the adoration of Jesus by the wise men (magi) from the East, together with his baptism in the Jordan (celebrated on Monday, Jan. 8th) and the wedding feast at Cana in Galilee.212 In the magi, representatives of the neighboring pagan religions, the Gospel sees the first-fruits of the nations, who welcome the good news of salvation through the Incarnation. The magi’s coming to Jerusalem in order to pay homage to the king of the Jews shows that they seek in Israel, in the messianic light of the star of David, the one who will be king of the nations.213 Their coming means that pagans can discover Jesus and worship him as Son of God and Savior of the world only by turning towards the Jews and receiving from them the messianic promise as contained in the Old Testament.214 The Epiphany shows that ‘the full number of the nations’ now takes its ‘place in the family of the patriarchs’, and acquires Israelitica dignitas215 (is made ‘worthy of the heritage of Israel’).”
Source: Catechism # 528

 

References:
212 ⇒ Mt 2:1; cf. LH, Epiphany, Evening Prayer II, Antiphon at the Canticle of Mary.
213 Cf ⇒ Mt 2:2; ⇒ Num. 24:17-19; ⇒ Rev 22:16.
214 Cf ⇒ Jn. 4:22; ⇒ Mt 2:4-6.
215 St. Leo the Great, Sermo 3 in epiphania Domini 1-3, 5: PL 54, 242; LH, Epiphany, OR here, OR; Roman Missal, Easter Vigil 26, Prayer after the third