Historically, the First Sunday after Epiphany has had several associations. At some points in church history, it has simply been the Sunday within the octave (ecclesiastical week) of Epiphany and repeated the collect and lessons of that ancient festival. From early times, it was also associated with Christ's Baptism (the 1928 American BCP, the Baptism is for Epiphany II). In traditional Books of Common Prayer, the Gospel continues Luke's Christmas-Epiphany sequence with the one recorded episode from Christ's later childhood: the episode of the twelve-year-old Jesus in the temple (St. Luke 2:41-52).
This Gospel shows how Jesus continued to fulfill all righteousness in His human nature. As a pious Jew, He was concerned about studying and applying the Scriptures. In His case, there was a special awareness that He was about His "Father's business" (St. Luke 2:49). Along with this awareness, He remained the ideal son who at that age was subject to His earthly parents' authority.
The episode also shows something unique. It is a manifestation or epiphany of God the Son incarnate as the perfect human being. At the same time, it is a call to us to follow Jesus' example. As sinners, we never follow His example perfectly, but aided by His grace, we are called to be about our heavenly Father's business and to seek to grow in service.
Saturday, January 08, 2011
Wednesday, January 05, 2011
Epiphany
A blessed Epiphany to all!
The Collect: O GOD, who by the leading of a star didst manifest thy only-begotten Son to the Gentiles; Mercifully grant that we, who know thee now by faith, may after this life have the fruition of thy glorious Godhead; through the same thy Son Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
(According to the 1928 American BCP rubrics, "this Collect is to be said daily throughout the Octave." )
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