2:20), while the Magi, when they saw the Christ, also worshiped him. To those
SERMON 203
ON THE LORD'S EPIPHANY
Date:410-412l
The world-renowned festival
1. "Epiphany," a word in the Greek language, can be put into English as "manifestation." Today, therefore, the Redeemer of all the nations was mani¬ fested, and thus he made a feast day for all nations. And so after celebrating his birth only a very few days ago, we celebrate today his manifestation. So our Lord Jesus Christ, bom thirteen days ago,2 is held to have been worshiped today by the Magi. That it happened is declared by the truth of the gospel; the day it happened on is everywhere established by the authority of this world-renowned festival.3
It seemed only just, after all, and it is indeed right and just, that the nations should gratefully acknowledge the day when salvation came to their firstfruits, and should dedicate this day to Christ the Lord with a solemn service of thanksgiving, because those Magi were indeed the first Gentiles to know Christ the Lord; and since they had not been stirred by any words of his, they had followed the star which appeared to them, and which, as though it were the tongue of heaven, spoke visibly on behalf of the infant, speechless Word.
The firstfruits of the Jews to come to faith in Christ and to receive his revelation were to be found in those shepherds, who came from nearby to see him on the day he was bom. Angels had brought them the news, to the Magi it was brought by a star; those were told, Glory to God in the highest (Lk 2:14), for these was fulfilled The heavens have declared the glory of God (Ps 19:1). Both, clearly, like the beginnings of two walls coming from different directions, of the circumcision and the uncircumcision, ran up to the cornerstone, so that he might be their peace, making the two into one.4
The humility of the Gentiles
2. The shepherds, though, because they had seen the Christ, praised God (Lk 2:20), while the Magi, when they saw the Christ, also worshiped him. To those grace came first, in these humility was more evident. Well, perhaps those