First Thoughts: The word Epiphany literally means "a sudden revelation or insight." Revelation operates on at least two levels in the scripture passage today. First, the Magi experience a revelation both in discovering the star in the sky and in finally finding the Christ Child. Second, the Magi offer a revelation to the rest of the world by presenting the child with certain meaningful gifts. We see that revelation comes not only through divine anomalies but through the faithful actions of wise people around us. If we are to participate in epiphany, we must be willing to follow our faith's leading (even when it seems irrational to others) and to share the wisdom we have with others who need it. What is the new revelation God has shared with you this holy season? What new understanding, deepening of compassion, new freedom is being offered to us? How will God use us to bring that same new revelation to the people around us? These are questions worth considering at the start of our liturgical year.
Teaching On Your Own: (uses binoculars to look at sky) Hey everybody. Know what I'm doing? I'm looking for an epiphany. You know, a sign from God, like the star that led the wise men to Jesus. I'm trying to see if God has a message for me. I keep watching the sky, but it just doesn't seem to be working. Maybe it's because we're inside and it is daylight. I can't really see the stars like that, can I? Maybe I'll just have to wait for another time to get an epiphany. Or maybe God can talk to me in another way. What do you think? I mean, it's true that God did send a star so the wise men could find Jesus, but that's not the only way God can talk to us. Sometimes God uses stars and big signs like that, but sometimes God uses regular people to get a message across. After all God used the star to send a message to the wise men, but then God used the wise men to send a message to the rest of the world. See, the wise men brought very special gifts to the Christ Child and these gifts gave the world a message about who Jesus really was. They gave him gold, which was a gift you might give a king. Then they have him frankincense, an oil a priest might use during worship, which showed that Jesus would have a special relationship with God. Finally they gave him myrrh, which was used in burial services, showing that Jesus would be compassionate and present to people in their suffering. If anyone looked at the gifts the wise men brought, they would have been able to learn something new about Jesus. Even if they never saw the star, they could still have an epiphany. That's important to remember. Whether God uses bright stars in the sky or the regular folks we see every day, there's one thing we can count on: God is always talking to us and trying to help us learn something new. So I'll keep these binoculars ready and keep watching for God's epiphany. But I'll remember to look at lots of places, not just the sky.
Teaching As A Team:
(Leader 2 has binoculars, looks through them at the sky)
Leader 1: Hey (name), what are you doing?
Leader 2: Looking for an epiphany.
Leader 1: An epiphany. You mean you're looking for a sign from God?
Leader 2: Yeah, you know, like star that led the wise men to Jesus. I'm trying to see if God has a message for me.
Leader 1: It's great to be looking for a message from God, but I think you have a couple problems if you're looking for the stars. First, we're inside. Second, it is daylight.
Leader 2: Yeah, I guess you're right. I'll have to wait for another time to get an epiphany.
Leader 1: Not necessarily. It's true that God did send a star so the wise men could find Jesus, but that's not the only way God can talk to us.
Leader 2: Really?
Leader 1: Sure. Epiphany just means that we get a message from God. Sometimes God uses stars and big signs like that, but sometimes God uses regular people. God used the star to send a message to the wise men, but then God used the wise men to send a message to the rest of the world.
Leader 2: What do you mean?
Leader 1: The wise men brought very special gifts to the Christ Child and these gifts gave the world a message about who Jesus really was. They gave him gold, which was a gift you might give a king. Then they have him frankincense, an oil a priest might use during worship showing that Jesus would have a special relationship with God. Finally they gave him myrrh, which was used in burial services, showing that Jesus would be compassionate and present to people in their suffering.
Leader 2: Wow. So if anyone looked at the gifts the wise men brought, they would have been able to learn something new about Jesus. Even if they never saw the star, they could still have an epiphany.
Leader 1: Absolutely right. Whether God uses bright stars in the sky or the regular folks we see every day, there's one thing we can count on: God is always talking to us and trying to help us learn something new. So you keep those binoculars ready and keep watching for God's epiphany to you.
Leader 2: I'll do that. But I'll remember to look at lots of places, not just the sky.
Closing Prayer: Thank you, God, for sending us messages to help us grow in our faith. Help us to keep our eyes open for epiphanies around us, whether we find it in the stars or in the lives of our family and friends. In Christ's name we pray, Amen.
Follow-Up Lesson: To reinforce this message in a school or classroom environment, revisit the story of the Magi. Invite the children to act out the scene starting with the Magi in their own land watching the sky for a sign from God. Have one child represent the star suddenly bursting onto the scene and walking in front of the Magi, leading them to Bethlehem. Have the child do a little dance when he or she comes to the house where Mary, Joseph, and Jesus wait. Then have the Magi offer their special presents to Jesus. When they do, make sure Mary and Joseph respond to the presents with surprise, showing that they too are receiving a new message from God in this moment. Enact the scene as many times as you need, so each child has a chance to play different parts. Then ask the children where they saw epiphany in the story. Remind them that epiphany is just another word for receiving a message from God. One epiphany occurs when the star shows up. Another epiphany occurs when Mary and Joseph receive a message about Jesus, when the Magi present the gifts. Now invite the children to think about other times when they've received special messages from God. Help them think through the different ways they might recognize God's voice -- in the beauty of nature, in the kindness of family and friends, in studying the Bible, and learning stories of faith. Now encourage them to think about how they might be an epiphany to others. How they can help others learn who God really is. Some ideas you might suggest are they can share their own experience of God's love with others, be kind to someone who is sad, forgive someone who has hurt them, and so forth. When we make decisions to be loving in the world, we're really teaching the world something about God, just as the Magi's gifts did.
For a craft idea, you can print out the template, one for each child. Then you can provide each child a symbol of the gifts of the Magi. The gold can be represented by plain river rocks painted a gold color. Frankincense oil can be found wherever essential oils are sold. Just put a few drops on cotton balls, so the children can smell the fragrance. Finally myrrh resin can be purchased in many herb shops or online. Using glue or a glue gun invite the children to attach the different gifts on the template, one on each wise man. Ask them if they remember the significance of these gifts and invite them to make any notes they want on the template to help them remember.
