An Ephiphany

Epiphany is the manifestation of God in human flesh; God with us. And it is God's manifestation not just to the Jewish people, but to the Gentiles. Today is Epiphany Day and Orthodox Christians around the world celebrate it. 

The message that was communicated to me when I was growing up was, "Make something of yourself." "Don't settle." "You are better than this." and "Be somebody." That same message is prevalent in our society. It's as if there is a collective fear of being mediocre or insignificant.

And yet, the God of the Universe, humbled himself and made himself less, and willingly took on this frail human form. He allowed himself to experience emotions, pain and exhaustion. He came under the care of two human parents. He was betrayed by friends who were fickle. And ultimately he was tortured by arrogant men and died on a wooden cross which was a symbol of humiliation.

Why would He do that? We go out of our way to avoid those negative emotions and events in our lives. Yet, the King of all, embraced them in order to provide a way for us. Jesus, the Son, was obedient even as His path pointed to the cross. 

Why is our focus on getting ahead and being better than the next person when the playing field was leveled at the incarnation? We are all the same - broken and sinful. God came down and provided a way for the beggar and the lord, the criminal and the pious, the Jew and the Gentile. None of us can approach God, no matter how good nor how important our position. It is only through Christ's incarnation, death and subsequent resurrection and ascension, that we can rise one bit above the position we are in.

That is the good news. We are all on the same level. We all have the same opportunity to come to Christ. He died for all. For God so loved the WHOLE world that He came down and dwelled among us. 

An epiphany for us all.