Happy Epiphany! Today is the Epiphany, which ends the Christmas season and begins the season of Epiphany. The Epiphany season lasts until Ash Wednesday, which begins Lent; February 21 this year.

The Epiphany is when, according to Church tradition, the three "wise men" or "magi" arrived from the east, to give their gifts to the Christ child. The story is included in Matthew 2:1-12. We know nothing more about these three mysterious travelers than what is in the story. Their names? The tradition that two were white and one was black? All of that has been made up over the years!

An "epiphany" is a manifestation, a clarification, and instance of making something clear. So, there is great significance in this season following the Christmas season. During Christmas we celebrate the birth of the Christ child, God in human flesh. During Epiphany, we become clear about what that means. We find that God's purposes for humanity and creation are embodied in Jesus the Christ. So, for instance -- what is God like? Look to Jesus. How should human beings treat each other? Look to the model of Jesus. What ethical behavior does God's grace free us to follow? Look at what Jesus did and taught.