Contemplative Christmas

Monday, January 6

Epiphany

Reading:

“…(Magi) from the East came to Jerusalem, asking, ‘Where is the child who has been born king of the Jews?’” [1]

Reflection:

The gift of the twelfth day of Christmas, according to the song, is twelve drummers drumming. The number 12 is associated with perfection, completeness, and harmony. Drumming symbolizes the steady, continuous rhythms of life, like a beating heart. Together, they represent the progressive movement of God’s work on earth. Twelve is a recurring number in religious symbolism, from the 12 disciples to the 12 tribes of Israel to the 12 Imams of Islam. There are also 12 months in a year and 12 astrological houses in the heavens.

            The twelfth day of Christmas is Epiphany. It signifies the day of the arrival of the Magi from the East, offering their gifts and paying homage to the Christ-child. An epiphany is a realization, when something murky becomes clearer. In the context of Christmas, the epiphany is that the birth of the Christ-child represents the perfect union of spirit and matter. The recognition of Jesus as fully divine and fully human, combined with Jesus’ instruction to follow leads us to the epiphany that we, too, are fully divine and fully human.

It is interesting that the Magi are so strongly associated with the Epiphany since they were foreigners and practitioners of esoteric sciences like astrology and alchemy, likely frowned upon by Jews and Romans alike. This affirms to me that Jesus did not come to start a new religion or to evangelize others to Judaism but to demonstrate a way of life applicable to those practicing any or no religion. It was a group of non-Jews who revealed the deeper, universal significance of this birth.

The journey from Thanksgiving to Epiphany is just that – a journey, a process, a progression. It is a continuous cycle that repeats every year as if to remind us of the divine nature we each possess but too often forget or ignore. It begins with gratitude, and leads to hope, peace, love, and joy. It moves steadily toward birth (or rebirth) and returns us to where we began, but (hopefully) with deeper insights, knowledge, and wisdom – an epiphany for the perfecting of life on earth.

Closing Meditation:

In silent meditation, consider what insights have been revealed to you this season. What will you carry with you into the rebirth of this cycle of your life?

Journal the thoughts and feelings that arise.

This daily series, Contemplative Christmas, is replacing my weekly Life Notes until January 6, 2025, when my weekly blog will resume. The thoughts expressed here are mine. To engage with me: ghildenbrand@outlook.com.

---

[1] Matthew 2:2