Epiphany

Welcome to our Advent 2025 Visio Divina Series, a visual meditation practice we are using as an entryway into this season. You can read more about this practice in our first installment of this series. Today we come to the end of Christmastide and celebrate Epiphany.

Three Magi

Mosaic located in the Basilica of Sant’ Apollinare Nuovo, Ravenna, c.565 A.D.

Photo: © José Luiz Bernardes Ribeiro, CC BY-SA 4.0

Questions for visio divina

1. As you begin, take a few deep breaths. While we know God is always with us, invite the Holy Spirit to be present and to speak to you afresh in these moments. Spend some time looking at the image. What do you see? Similar to doing Bible study, make as many observations as you can. What do you like or dislike? Why? What questions do you have?

2. How does the artist use color, light, style, composition, and material? What do you think the artist wanted to communicate? What stands out to you? Why do you think this is so?

3. Read Matthew 2:1 - 12 (below). How does this add to what you are seeing? Is there other Scripture that comes to mind?

4. Spend some time reflecting on the Scripture passage and looking again at today’s image. What is God’s invitation to you? What might you need to see, understand, or believe? How does your current life experience intersect with what you are seeing and reflecting on? How might this image help you pray today? What do you want to say to God? Ask from him?

Scripture passage

Matthew 2:1 - 12

In the time of King Herod, after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea, wise men from the East came to Jerusalem, 2 asking, ‘Where is the child who has been born king of the Jews? For we observed his star at its rising, and have come to pay him homage.’ 3 When King Herod heard this, he was frightened, and all Jerusalem with him; 4 and calling together all the chief priests and scribes of the people, he inquired of them where the Messiah was to be born. 5 They told him, ‘In Bethlehem of Judea; for so it has been written by the prophet:

6 “And you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah,are by no means least among the rulers of Judah;for from you shall come a rulerwho is to shepherd my people Israel.”’

7 Then Herod secretly called for the wise men and learned from them the exact time when the star had appeared. 8 Then he sent them to Bethlehem, saying, ‘Go and search diligently for the child; and when you have found him, bring me word so that I may also go and pay him homage.’ 9 When they had heard the king, they set out; and there, ahead of them, went the star that they had seen at its rising, until it stopped over the place where the child was. 10 When they saw that the star had stopped, they were overwhelmed with joy. 11 On entering the house, they saw the child with Mary his mother; and they knelt down and paid him homage. Then, opening their treasure-chests, they offered him gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh. 12 And having been warned in a dream not to return to Herod, they left for their own country by another road.

Reflection

This week, we wrap up twelve days of celebrating the coming of the promised Savior and move into Epiphany. Epiphany comes from the Greek word phainein, which means “to cause to appear” or “to bring to light.” It can be associated with the arrival of a deity or ruler or to an experience — an “aah!” moment when we suddenly “see the light.” Central to the observance Epiphany in the Church is a focus on the manifestation of God’s glory in Christ. Epiphany is both a day (January 6) and a season that takes us all the way up to Lent, beginning this year on February 18 with Ash Wednesday. This reflection will focus mainly on the day. (Fleming Rutledge’s little book called Epiphany gives a fuller understanding of the season and is highly recommended.)

Matthew tells the story of wise men — magi — from the East who see a star and follow it to Bethlehem. There, they expect to find the one “born king of the Jews” to whom they wish to pay homage. While the text does not tell us how many wise men came or exactly where they are from, it is clear they are Gentiles. Most likely they are astrologers or star watchers from Persia or Babylon. It isn’t until the 3rd century when Origen suggests there were three of them, most likely because three gifts (gold, frankincense, and myrrh) are mentioned in Matthew 2. In the 6th century, these Eastern visitors are designated as Kings and are assigned the names Caspar, Melchior, and Balthasar. The Venerable Bede in the 8th century suggested these three kings represent the three parts of the known world — Asia, Europe, and Africa — initiating their racially-distinct depictions in art and literature ever since.

We see this in the mosaic in the Basilica of Sant’ Apollinare Nuovo in Ravenna. The three men (with their names designated above them) are differentiated racially by their facial features, coloring, and hair. As is typical with Byzantine art, these men are dressed in elaborate Persian clothing (breeches, capes, and Phrygian caps). In the upper right corner, you see the star they have followed. This mosaic is part of a larger “procession” which covers the wall of the church and ends to the right where the infant Jesus sits on Mary’s lap. The three Magi lean toward the infant King, extending their luxurious gifts in his honor. The colors are amazing, as is the detail. Each little tile in the mosaic is the size of a fingernail. Together with the rest of the walls, the little church bursts into radiant color as it tells the story of God’s saving acts in the world. These gorgeous mosaics reflect the dominant role mosaics played in medieval churches of the Christian East.

What do these journeying Easterners have to say to us today? Let me suggest three things — one for each magi!

1. These Magi, like others in the Christmas story, make room in their world for Jesus. As with Mary and Joseph, their hospitality is costly — a long and perilous journey hauling lavish gifts resulting in death threats from an unhinged Herod. God’s call comes to them from a star — an invitation to seek and find him. We do not know why, but they respond. Were they prepared for all that it would take from them? The time? The danger? The expense? The wise men from the East remind us that God initiates. He reveals himself. He calls people to seek him and promises to be found by those who do (Ps. 9:10; Mt. 7:7-8). And they tell us that, regardless of the cost, the journey to God is worth it.

2. These wise and learned men point us to the source of all wisdom. All that the world had to teach them, all that they had mastered along the way did not hold the ultimate answers to life. Those would come from the One they were seeking. In whom [Christ] are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge. (Col. 2:3)

3. So much of the “Christmas story”, including the story of the Magi from the East, links to God’s promises spoken to his people through the prophets. Prophecy is fulfilled in the coming of Jesus and in the details of his birth. The Magi remind us of God’s intention to bless the world through Israel’s Messiah. He would come not only to seek and to save the lost of Israel, but would be a “light to the Gentiles” (Is. 49:6; Lk. 2:32). The Gentiles would see (an epiphany!) and respond and rejoice at his coming. Joy to the WORLD the Lord has come!

What encouragement or challenge are you invited to receive from God today through reflecting on this event? How might God be inviting you to seek, ask, and knock? What revelation (epiphany) might you ask God for in the coming new year?

Prayer

Thank you, God, that you so loved the world that you gave your only Son. We are both grateful and humbled that you have called us to yourself in Christ and that you continue to reveal to us who you are and what you are about in the world. Thank you for inviting us to join you in this good work. Grant us eyes to see, ears to hear, and wills to obey. Amen.