Epiphany

Apr 09, 2012

The town of Ravenna, Italy is home to an ancient mausoleum that was built to be the final resting place of one of the most powerful women in the Roman Empire in the fifth century. The mausoleum contained the remains of Galla Placidia, daughter, sister, and mother to three Roman emperors. The walls and ceiling of the small, cross-shaped building are covered with intricately designed mosaics that are some of the most stunning and well preserved examples of early Christian art. The focal point of the ceiling is the depiction of Jesus, the Great Shepherd, surrounded by his flock. Experts describe it as “the earliest and best preserved of all mosaic monuments, and at the same time one of the most artistically perfect.”

But visitors who have set out to the mausoleum in hopes of getting a glimpse of the Great Shepherd may be surprised upon their arrival to find the beautiful mosaic veiled in darkness. The building only has a few tiny windows, and the light that does enter is often blocked by the crowd of tourists. The beauty is present but hidden by the darkness.Then suddenly, without advanced notice, a set of spotlights on the ceiling comes on, illuminating the tiles of the mosaic, revealing the picture of Christ that everyone has come to see. The room is filled with sounds of surprise and delight, and then after a few fleeting seconds, the darkness returns. 

The imagery of light and darkness dominates the ancient Christian season of Epiphany. The word “epiphany” comes from a Greek word that means “manifestation” or “appearing,” and has come to be used in our everyday language to describe those “light-bulb moments” when something obscure becomes clear to us for the first time. Our brothers and sisters in the faith began using this word centuries ago in association with the weeks between Christmas and the beginning of Lent. For them, it was a time to commemorate the “appearing,” the “manifestation” of Jesus as the savior of the world and to be reminded of their mission to make Christ known to a world lost in darkness. 

In John 8:12, Jesus says, “I am the light of the world.” And in Matthew 5:14 he says to his disciples, “You are the light of the world.” The season of Epiphany is about recognizing the life-altering truth of both of these statements. Jesus has come into the world to bring light to our darkness. But he has also sent us to bring his light to those who so desperately need it. 

This year the season of Epiphany will last seven weeks, from January 8 to February 19. Over the course of these weeks, the IBC Teaching Team will focus our attention on characters who encounter Jesus in the Gospels and have their own “epiphany moments.” We will see how their lives were changed as they marvel at his goodness, beauty and truth and how they are compelled to tell others what they have seen, heard and experienced in him. According to Scripture, the kingdom of God is very much like the mosaic of the Great Shepherd in Ravenna — its beauty is present but hidden by darkness. One day, at Christ’s second appearing, the darkness will fully and finally be dispelled forever. But as we await that day, we are called to be people who bring light to the darkness and put the beauty of the kingdom on display. Christ, the Light of the World, is made manifest as we live out our calling to be the light of the world on his behalf. As Thomas Merton writes, “We who have seen the light of Christ are obliged, by the greatness of the grace that has been given to us, to make known the presence of the Savior to the ends of the earth… not only by preaching the glad tidings of His coming; but above all by revealing Him in our lives…. Every day of our mortal lives must be His manifestation, His divine Epiphany, in the world which He has created and redeemed.”

Audio messages are available at our media section and via podcasts each week through the series.

Barry Jones recently shaved his beard only to discover a fiestier, more ardent, second beard.