What If We Took Epiphany Seriously?

“The Three Kings Bow to Jesus” by Ladislav Záborský

Today’s reflections is from Bondings 2.0 contributor Mark Guevarra.

The liturgical readings for the Epiphany can be found here.

You are an epiphany.  

The word “epiphany” comes from the Greek word meaning  revelation or a manifestation. In Matthew’s gospel, the Epiphany refers to Christ’s manifestation to the gentiles as witnessed by the magi or wise men from the east. 

But even before Jesus’ birth, as Paul reminds us, all of creation has been revealing God’s nature and power (Romans 1:20). If that’s the case, then you and me, every whale, every ameoba, every atom, and every galaxy is an epiphany of Christ. 

Trusting in that truth can be difficult, maybe even unacceptable. If all of creation reveals Christ, then that means Christ is in the stranger, the worst criminals, and in those who harm us. And if all of creation reveals Christ, then followers of Christ should be more responsible about how our overconsumption affects all of creation now and generations from now. So, trusting in the belief that all are manifestations of Christ has ethical and moral implications that can span generations. Opening our eyes to this can be so blinding that it’s often easier to just close them and remain in the dark. 

So how do we learn to see others and all of creation as epiphanies? I think it starts with truly seeing yourself as Christ’s manifestation–every wrinkle, every scar, every embarrassment, every heartbreak, every rejection, every grief, every oppression, every privilege, every joy, every pleasure. 

And, in order for us to see ourselves as epiphanies, we require vulnerability, humility, courage, and faith. And to cultivate those qualities, we need supportive communities and loved ones who model this way of living, and who encourage us to be people of compassion. Each of us needs to put in the work, be patient with ourselves, and be committed. Each of us requires vision and dedication to it.  There are many steps we must take to be followers of Christ.

In some ways, LGBTQ+ people, and even their allies, have the “privilege” of having to work to see themselves as epiphanies.  All too often, we have been told that we do NOT show God to the world. Because of that message, those in the LGBTQ+ community need to do the work going “deeper” than most people, and as a result, are sometimes able to have a stronger foundation than most.  

So what would you be like if you truly saw yourself as an epiphany? Jesus’ life, teachings, and ministry reveal what that looks like. Living as manifestations of God’s love enables us to act with compassion and generosity, to feed and clothe others, to heal others by our words, to welcome others, to listen without fear or judgement, to overcome our biases and stereotypes, and to forgive. And, when we truly live as epiphanies, as Jesus did, we will transcend our limitations including suffering and death itself. 

Imagine the world we’d live in if we all lived out the truth that we are all epiphanies. We’d finally end the downward spiral towards climate catastrophe. We’d live out compassion and understanding across divides, and live in harmony. Altogether, we’d manifest Christ within us and among us. 

All of this is idealistic but in the face of ecological catastrophe and civilizational distress, now more than ever we need to recast the dream. Throughout his papacy, Pope Francis has time and again called all people to dream anew. On December 24, 2024, the Holy Father officially launched the 2025 Jubilee Year. He called upon all Christians to use the occasion to dream of a “new world where peace and justice reign.” 

I contend that in order for peace and justice to reign in the world, we must first choose for it to reign in our hearts. We must first choose to accept that we are epiphanies of Christ. As we journey into this jubilee year, may we all come to this recognition and see in one another and all of creation, Christ’s manifestation. 

—Mark Guevarra (he/him), January 5, 2025