The word epiphany comes from the Greek ἐπιφάνεια meaning “to make manifest, to show forth, to appear”. We use it when we have those “aha! moments”, when something becomes clear that wasn’t previously. But what was being revealed at Epiphany? What do we see, that we hadn’t before?
Anam Cara Ministries, Facebook post 1/5/22
Apocalypse, per dictionary.com, also has its origin from the Greek “apokálypsis “revelation,” equivalent to apokalýp(tein) “to uncover, reveal” (apo- “away, off, apart” + kalýptein “to cover, conceal”)”.
It almost feels as though we have been living two years’ worth of epiphanies, of revelations, of apocalyptic times. Two years ago we were hearing little of the COVID-19 virus, it was way over there, in China. By the middle of March 2020, the story had changed radically. And as the pandemic grabbed hold around the world and here in the U.S., a number of things were revealed.
Directly related to the pandemic, inequalities in access to quality healthcare, both routine care and emergency care, were brought into the light. A lack of healthcare is tied to job security or a complete lack of work, as well as inequalities to quality education. These inequalities are especially prevalent in African American communities.
Right on the heels of an aggressive virus, the murder of George Floyd, video recorded for the world to see, set off months of protests nation-wide over police brutality and a system that dispenses justice unevenly, strongly skewing in favor of white people.
A presidential election took place in the midst of illness, death, isolation, racial tensions, and economic stresses that further highlighted how divided we are as a country, as a people. The gap between blue and red has widened. There seems to be no purple area out there.
Then January 6, 2021 happened. On the church calendar, January 6th is Epiphany. Only church nerds seem to observe it on the actual day. But last year, January 6th became known as the day an insurrection attempt happened, in the hopes that the electoral votes for President-Elect Biden would not be certified and then President Trump would retain power and the office of president.
Instead of a unified decrying of the attack on the U.S. Capitol, the attack further illuminated the chasm between our two political parties, and between neighbors and family members. Fears have been revealed, fears of the other, of not being seen, of not enough. Fears, albeit different fears, are driving us further apart. A year past and we are even further apart.
Dictionary.com gives the common definition of apocalypse as “a prophetic revelation, especially concerning a cataclysm in which the forces of good permanently triumph over the forces of evil” any universal or widespread destruction or disaster”…man-made or natural. The Earth has been revealing its own truths about our abuses of nature, deletion of natural resources, and over population of the planet.
There are modern day prophets out there sounding the alarm on climate change, police brutality, worker exploitation, authoritarianism growing across the globe, and marginalized people living life on the run, in refugee camps, or in equally difficult or even deplorable conditions in their own countries. Will we continue to ignore these prophetic voices, or in some cases, silence them?
Revealing what is unpleasant, uncomfortable, ugly, is difficult. No one enjoys having their faults pointed out. But without that happening, betterment, growth, and moving forward in positive and healthy ways is unlikely.
If an epiphany is an “AHA!” moment, when will we have such a collective moment? If January 6, 2021 was not that moment for us as a country, what will be? If a police officer suffocating the life out of a man in broad daylight is not that moment, what will it take? And while these past years have revealed much, 2 years in the long arc of history is but a moment. Is this period of time our “AHA?”
Epiphany, pretty much unknown in popular culture and only observed on January 6th by the nerdiest of the church nerds, is more than the story of the 3 Kings making it to Bethlehem. And it wasn’t a short 12 day trip, but a rather long and slow journey getting there, including a visit with a fearful, power hungry king. And then intentionally deciding to go home by another way.
Are we willing to find our way back by another way? Turning the tide on racial tensions, environmental concerns, and providing quality of life for all people and freeing people from oppression will require us to go by another way and not continue on the current road. Has enough been revealed for us to say it is time to correct course…locally, nationally, and globally?
May we find the strength, courage, and wisdom of the 3 wise men and go in a different direction.
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