the Epiphany, which is a Greek word meaning "manifestation," and refers to
SERMON 204
ON THE LORD'S EPIPHANY
Date: uncertain1
Christmas and Epiphany belong to the manifestation of Christ
1. A few days ago we celebrated the Lord's birthday; today we are celebrating the Epiphany, which is a Greek word meaning "manifestation," and refers to what the apostle said: Without doubt, great is the mystery of piety, which was manifested in the flesh (1 Tm 3:16). So both days really belong to the manifes¬ tation of Christ. On that day he was bom as a human being from a human mother, though he was God without beginning with the Father. But he was manifested in flesh to flesh, because flesh was unable to see him as he was in spirit. And on that day indeed, which is called his birthday, the shepherds from among the Jews saw him; while today, which is properly called Epiphany, that is "mani¬ festation," the Magi worshiped him from among the Gentiles. News of him was brought to the former by angels, to the latter by a star. The angels inhabit the heavens, and the stars adorn them; to both shepherds and Magi, therefore, the heavens declared the glory of God (Ps 19:1).
A great sacrament and mystery with a twin festivity
2. For both, you see, he was bom as the cornerstone, so that, as the apostle says, he might establish the two in himself into one new man, making peace, and might exchange2 both in one body to God through the cross (Eph 2:15-16). What, after all, is a comer, but the conjunction of two walls which come from different points, and there in a certain fashion achieve a kiss of peace? They had, of course, been hostile to each other, the circumcision and the uncircumcision, that is Jews and Gentiles, because of two differences and contradictions between them;3 the worship on that side of the one true God, on this of many false ones.
And so since those were nearby, while these were far off, he drew both to himself, and exchanged both in one body to God, as the same apostle goes on to add, through the cross slaying the hostilities in himself And coming he preached the good news of peace to you, he says, who were far off, and peace to those who were nearby; because through him we both have access in one