The Lord appears to you by means of His Word and Sacraments, not only on the day of Epiphany or during the season of Epiphany, but every day of every season of the Church Year. The New Testament’s original Greek verb and noun that give us our English word “Epiphany” have to do with “appearing”. Somewhat surprisingly perhaps, the Gospel accounts strictly speaking use them only once, of the Lord’s appearing as the saving light that shines on us who otherwise dwell in the darkness of our sins and so the shadow of death (Luke 1:79, with reference to Isaiah 9:2). But, the Apostle Paul’s subsequent letters more-regularly use the word, such as to refer to the appearance of God our Savior’s grace, goodness, and loving-kindness’s bringing salvation for all, Jew and Gentile (Titus 2:11; 3:4), His appearance that abolishes death and brings light and immortality to light through the Gospel of salvation by grace through faith in Him (2 Timothy 1:10; 4:8). So, we know that God appears to you by means of His Word and Sacraments, calling and enabling you to turn from your sin and to trust Him to forgive your sin for the sake of His Son Jesus, the Christ, Who by word and deed was revealed to be the Lord, as we hear day after day this Epiphany Season.

The Epiphany Season begins with the day of Epiphany, focused on the Gentile Magi whom God guided to the Child Jesus with His Word and a star. The First Sunday after Epiphany marks the Baptism of our Lord, wherein, amid a revelation of the Holy Trinity, He took on our sins and set apart Baptism as our way of receiving in faith the benefits of His death and resurrection for us. And, six other Sundays after Epiphany follow, each with their own appearance of the Lord, until the observance of the Transfiguration of the Lord, perhaps the most glorious appearance of the God-man Jesus Christ until He appears the final time (2 Thessalonians 2:8; 1 Timothy 6:14; 2 Timothy 4:1; Titus 2:13).

The Epiphany Season’s themes of joy, celebration, gladness, light, purity, and innocence are accented by the use of white paraments (cloths on the pastor and chancel furnishings) for the day of Epiphany, the Baptism of Our Lord, and the Transfiguration. And, the Season’s theme of the resulting spiritual growth is reflected in the season’s green paraments, used for six “middle” Sundays of the season.

A listing of all the Sundays of this year’s Epiphany Season (with their dates and Gospel Readings according to Lutheran Service Book‘s 3-year series of readings, mostly using the Holy Gospel according to St. Luke) follows:

  • Epiphany (01/06): God guides Gentile “wise men” to the Child Jesus (Matthew 2:1-12)
  • Baptism of Our Lord (01/13): Jesus is baptized for us (Luke 3:15-22)
  • Second Sunday after Epiphany (01/20): Jesus miraculously blesses newlyweds (John 2:1-11)
  • Third Sunday (01/27): Jesus preaches about His fulfilling prophecies (Luke 4:16-30)
  • Fourth Sunday (02/03): Jesus casts out demons who know Who He is (Luke 4:31-44)
  • Fifth Sunday (02/10): Jesus calls disciples who catch us “fish” (Luke 5:1-11)
  • Sixth Sunday (02/17): Jesus proclaims blessings and woes to the multitudes (Luke 6:17-26)
  • Seventh Sunday (02/24): Jesus teaches us to love our enemies as He loved us (Luke 6:27-38)
  • Transfiguration of Our Lord (02/07): Jesus gives a glimpse of His true glory (Luke 9:28-36)

You are invited and welcome to attend Pilgrim in person on those dates and at all times, but, if you cannot, you can usually read and listen to the sermons here.

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