The Ikon of Epiphany

 

What lies behind the Epiphany?

Bedazzled?

Sermon for the Vigil of the Epiphany 

When was the last time

you stayed up all night?

Did you see the sun rise?

There comes a point

when you look out 

across the night sky

that there is a definite 

change of colour.

The first glimmers of light

that come across the Horizon 

bring with them

a real sense that the night 

is nearly over.

These days,

because of the number

of street lights

there is always 

a perpetual glow 

on the Horizon. 

Near the cities,

we lose that gradual 

change from darkness

to light.

We also get a false sense 

of the dawn that's about

to rise upon our day.

Light pollution

is deceptive 

and robs us

of our awareness 

of the beauty of firstlight.

[PAUSE]

Here we are,

awaiting the Epiphany 

ready to see the dawn 

of the awareness

that God is made man

so that we can become

like Him.

But the world around us

is aglow with all kinds of light

making it difficult 

for us to see 

the dayspring from on high

dawning upon us.

Just as the world around us

fills our ears with chatter

and the Internet produces 

so much noise of competing ideas,

and vitriolic disagreement, 

so are the eyes of our souls

dazzled with the world's claim

on our attention

with false light.

Indeed,

it is the light that dazzles

precisely so that we 

are prevented from seeing the truth.

A dazzling light

is useless

because it stops us from seeing,

and that defeats its purpose.

As we gaze at a dawn

surrounded by the light

of streetlights

which focus us on the street below, 

we miss the emergence

of the greater day.

If we truly want to see the dawn

then we have to find somewhere remote

away from dazzling lights.

It means that 

we have to switch off

the light of the world.

But if we do that 

we find ourselves plunged into darkness.

And darkness makes us uncomfortable. 

But,

once our eyes have 

got used to the darkness,

then we can watch the true dawn arise.

[PAUSE]

This is why

the Church often makes

the day before major festivals

days of fasting.

This is why we fast before Mass. 

This is why Lent and Advent

are days of fasting and silence.

If we truly want to see

the Light of Christ 

dawn in our lives,

then we must darken

our lives and souls

from all that dazzles us,

distracts us

distorts us,

discombobulates us.

We can turn off the television 

unplug the router,

close the curtains, 

and pray in silence. 

[PAUSE]

And there in the silence

of our prayer

we see the dawn

as the Magi approach Bethlehem

as St John Baptist prepares

for a day baptising

and as a bride and groom

start to prepare for their wedding.

In the silence of our prayer

we watch the glow of God's revelation

of Himself 

to each one of us,

showing us

that He lives

that He loves us

and that He wants us

to know Him

and enter His Kingdom

where there is no darkness

nor dazzling but one equal light.