The celebration of Epiphany is, in many ways, a celebration of the fulfillment of God’s promise to the nation of Israel. “Epiphany” literally means manifestation. In this case, what is referred to is God’s manifestation to the Gentiles (i.e., any non-Jewish people). However, as Tony explains, this manifestation is not a simple showing or a declaration of existence. Instead, what is being manifested is the reality that as the Jewish Messiah, Jesus, has not only come to bring salvation to the Jewish people, but for the whole human family, Jew and Gentile alike.
Mass Readings:
Reading 1: Isaiah 60:1-6
Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 72:1-2, 7-8, 10-11, 12-13
Reading 2: Ephesians 3:2-3a, 5-6
Gospel: Matthew 2:1-12
Tony Crescio is the founder of FRESHImage Ministries. He holds an MTS from the University of Notre Dame and is currently a PhD candidate in Christian Theology at Saint Louis University. His research focuses on the intersection between moral and sacramental theology. His dissertation is entitled, Presencing the Divine: Augustine, the Eucharist and the Ethics of Exemplarity.
Tony’s academic publications can be found here.