St. Clements Anglican Church 

THE EPIPHANY SEASON

As I mentioned in my Sermon for Epiphany Sunday, there is a great diversity of commemorations in the readings throughout the Sundays in this season.  We have celebrated the coming of the Wise Men to worship at the cradle of the Infant Christ; then, the Baptism of Jesus in the River Jordan by John the Baptist, with the voice from heaven declaring that this Jesus is the beloved Son of God; then the visit of Jesus, at twelve years old, to the Temple in Jerusalem, where he amazed the learned teachers by his understanding and answers; then a series of miracles: the changing of water into wine at the marriage feast in Cana, the healing of a leper and the healing of the paralyzed companion of the Roman Centurion; and then, the calming of the turbulent sea.  At the end of the Epiphany season, we have prophetic lessons about the final coming of the Son of God, in power and great glory. 

All of these commemorations are tied together by one common theme:  they are all aspects of the showing forth, the shining forth, the Epiphany of the divine glory of Jesus Christ, the Eternal Son of God, the Eternal Word of God, made flesh.  They make up a continuing meditation upon the meaning of the Christmas miracle – the miracle of God with us, God in our flesh, Emmanuel, God visible to human eyes, God audible to human ears, God tangible to human touch, God manifest in human life, judging, restoring, and transforming it by the grace and truth He brings.  “The Word was made flesh and dwelt among us (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father), full of grace and truth.”  Do we, as followers and disciples of Jesus, truly believe this Presence of our Blessed  Lord in our lives, our relationships, our work, our ministry and calling?

May the miracle of Christmas guide each one of us during this New Year of 2019.

Every blessing. 

Gordon Jackson, Incumbent.