The stories of Christ’s early life often become detached from the difficult realities of the physical world–realities which many families endure today. Today’s reflection invites us to place ourselves within the Epiphany narrative and encounter the realities that the Holy Family faced, remembering that God is with us even in the most difficult and human circumstances.

January 5, 2025: The Epiphany of the Lord
Isaiah 60:1–6
Psalm 72:1–2, 7–8, 10–13
Ephesians 3:2–3a, 5–6
Matthew 2:1–12

Epiphanies About Epiphany

A reflection by delfín w. bautista

On a personal note: In many Latine and Latinx communities, the feast of Epiphany or Día de los Reyes Magos is celebrated with just as much festive pachanga as Noche Buena and Navidad.  From my familia to your familia, muchas felicidades y bendiciones.

As with some of my previous reflections, I invite you to explore Epiphany through the Ignatian practice of placing yourself in the story. Feel, hear, taste, smell, touch…allow yourself to truly and whole-istically experience with tingling sensations the words and images of the readings.

Place yourself in the position of Mary, Joseph, or one of the Magi; perhaps consider the perspective of a donkey or camel; maybe even put yourself in the place of Baby Jesus looking up to everyone staring at you when all you want to do is be burped and take a nap.

There are many different interpretations of the Epiphany narrative. Some folks say the visitors were kings, scholars, scientists or wise men; some say there was a fourth person; others proclaim them as women or as the three queers. There are debates as to when the visit happened, from soon after the birth of Jesus to many years after. Rather than delve into these various readings and understandings, each with its own unique and transformative meaning, I invite you to immerse yourself in whichever narrative or mix of stories creates a sense of comfort to help spark epiphanies in you.

Here are some invitations and starting points to help you in case this practice is new or a little challenging…

- You encounter a young family who has undergone many conflicting emotions and experiences–including fear, confusion, threats, gossip, encounters with angels, dreams, nightmares, and hope–leading them to flee their home into the unknown due to a fear-filled king’s lust for power.
- You are a young woman, pregnant, forced into exile and diaspora for taking ownership of your body, leaving all that you know to live into and live out your vocation. You are on the road, walking sometimes and riding a donkey at other times, potentially experiencing the beginning of labor in the desert.
- You are a young man who has challenged toxic masculinity and defined masculinity in your own terms: nurturing, tender, and vulnerable. You are accepting your beloved’s decision despite it not making total sense to you, but you trust this person who makes you feel whole and giddy.
- You are an infant or a young child, with all the giggling and curiosity for the new wonders around you while also going through your terrible twos.
- You meet fellow travelers who are anxious while dealing with known and unknown political turmoil and changes.
- You are a donkey, camel, or other animal, wondering why this small creature who cries is lying on your hay.
- You are an observer of all these actions, bearing witness to the perplexities and wholizingness of individuals forming a family and community grounded in the mystery and marvel of Emmanuel—God is WITH us.

Some final queries…how does this 2000-year-old experience provide insight into our realities today? How can this story, however it happened, guide us as we encounter the plight of undocumented individuals, debates over reproductive justice, and the potential instabilities and uncertainties caused by leaders filled with fear? How can it shape our response to rejection when others don’t understand or want to affirm our lives and loves and vocations? How do we claim, reclaim, and proclaim the messy, whole-izing message of Emmanuel—God is WITH us in both the confusions and celebrations? What epiphanies have been kindled, are being kindled, and will be kindled in you and through you?

May each of us encounter God’s guiding star to minister Emmanuel within us and among us (and remember that sometimes, we will be that guiding star for others).

I close with this prayer by writer Cameron Bellm, which poetically and prophetically reflects my hopes for you, for me, and for all of us during this season of Epiphany.

“A Prayer for the Feast of the Epiphany”

By Cameron Bellm, Spirit & Verse

I wonder sometimes

If one of the stars that lit Abraham’s night

Was the one that led the Magi to Jesus.

A dark canvas speckled by the most generous brush—

What an improbable promise to an old man.

But our God has never been daunted by the unlikely, the impossible.

What a sight for the Magi, too,

A baby resting on hay, his cries mingled with braying and bleating.

I like to think they heard in those everyday sounds a holy chorus,

Saw in that noisy tableau a Creator serenaded by His creation,

All of it embodied, enfleshed—

All of it good.

And when we’ve left our gifts for this implausible King,

May we, like the Magi, go home by another way—

Having encountered the holy,

May we protect it, guard it,

Trail its light behind us wherever we go.

A sacred arc transposed from heaven to earth,

May we ourselves become the star,

Leading the way to Emmanuel.

Amen.
                                                             

mx. delfin w. bautista, MSW, MDiv. (they/elle/delfin) is a native of Miami, FL, is of Cuban and Salvadoran heritage, and currently serves as the Director for the Lionel Cantu Queer Resource Center at UC-Santa Cruz. A social worker and activist theologian, delfin is passionate about intersectional justice and resilience, especially around the experiences of queer people of color. delfin currently serves on the board of directors for enfleshed.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          

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