The term epiphany comes to us from the Greek word epiphaneia, meaning "manifestation." On the Feast of the Epiphany, the Western Church celebrates the manifestation of God to the world through the visit of the Magi. In the Eastern Church the celebration of God’s manifestation, or Epiphany, is centered on the Baptism of Christ.

In the Western Church, the story of the Magi is central to the celebration of the Epiphany of Christ to the nations. Although many legends have sprung up around the Magi, the Scripture story of their arrival is not to be read as an historical event. Instead, Scripture invites us to delve deeper into the mystery of God’s revelation to all people, and not just the Jews, a common theme in Matthew’s Gospel.

The Feast of the Epiphany is January 6 on the Church’s calendar, but it is celebrated on the Sunday that falls between January 2 and January 8. On this feast, Christians celebrate that Jesus, the Son of God and our Savior, was a gift from God the Father to all people of the world.

Family Activity

	Discuss three gifts everyone can offer Jesus. Those three gifts are time, treasure, and talent.

	•		Plan a project that provides small gifts of time, treasure, or talent to someone in need.
	•		Gifts of time might include helping at a local soup kitchen or doing yard work for an elderly or homebound person.
	•		Gifts of treasure might include small gifts of flavored tea bags, hard candy, silk flowers, or magazines for those living in care facilities.
	•		Gifts of talent might include singing as a group at a care facility or reading to young children.

See the Liturgical Calendar on this site for additional information.
See also Catechist—Lent or Teacher—Lent for Liturgy.