The Bible In A Year
Advent/Christmas week 3 of 3
December 31- January 4, 2019
Readings for the week
Theme: Jesus’ birth according to Matthew.
- Monday -Micah chapters 1, 2, 3 & 4
- Tuesday -Micah chapters 5, 6 & 7
- Wednesday -Matthew chapter 2
Before reading today’s readings, recall as much as you can of the story of Jesus’ birth. What parts did you read about last week? What parts did you remember that weren’t in Luke’s account? After you read today’s assignment, reflect on the similarities and differences between Luke’s & Matthew’s accounts of Jesus’ birth. - Thursday -Psalms 33 & 85
- Friday -Isaiah chapter 60, Psalm 92
- Saturday -John chapter 1, Psalm 77
The Bible In A Year
Advent/Christmas week 3 of 3
A Framework for Understanding
Epiphany
The word “epiphany” means: a divine manifestation; also, a direct encounter with God. Honoring Jesus as the manifestation of God in a human being, the Christian church has celebrated a special day as “Epiphany.” Various Christian traditions use different days for this celebration:
January 6 is the day in the Western church, in which God’s self revelation to Gentiles is honored through the revelation to the 3 Wise Men.
January 19 is the day for some Orthodox traditions.
The date of January 6 was settled on in the early centuries of the Christian church, though it is unclear why that date was chosen. The story of the visit of the Magi, or Wise Men, is told only in Matthew’s Gospel. It is clear from that telling that Matthew saw the Magi’s travels as taking at least a couple of years, not a couple of weeks. Herod’s order to kills all the young boys, and not just new born males, points to this understanding.
Various cultures have developed rich traditions around the celebrations of Christmas and of Epiphany. While January 6 is not a major force in the US culture, our neighbors to the south place a major emphasis on this day. December 25 is a day often spend in church, worshipping God and giving thanks for Jesus. January 6, known as “El Dia de los Reyes,” is the day when gifts are exchanged, following the example of the “3 Kings.”