Epiphany by Fleming Rutledge

Author:Fleming Rutledge
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Fullness of time;fts;church calendar;liturgical year;church holidays;Anglican;season of Epiphany;magi;three kings;after Christmas;feast;daily prayers;Christian rituals
Publisher: InterVarsity Press
Published: 2023-07-13T15:07:38+00:00

Just like that. In Caravaggio’s masterpiece The Calling of Saint Matthew, Jesus enters the room where the tax collectors are counting money, and we see him commanding, “Follow me.” As he says this, he points to Matthew. Matthew gestures, “Who, me?” Jesus’ feet are already turned back toward the door; there is no possibility of Matthew refusing. On another occasion Jesus seems to offer an invitation to a rich young man who “went away sorrowful” (Matthew 19:22). Apparently Jesus can choose either to invite or more forcefully to command according to his own mysterious purposes, for he says afterward, “With God all things are possible” (Matthew 19:26).

An epiphany in the New Testament is a revelation of Jesus’ identity and power. He is able both to command and to elicit an immediate response. This is not just personal charisma. At the baptism we have heard the voice of God identifying his Son. We are meant to be awestruck by these indications of Jesus’ majesty. That is what the season of Epiphany is designed to display.

In year C, the Epiphany lectionary includes Luke 4:21-32, the inaugural sermon in the synagogue at Nazareth. Following the temptation by Satan in the wilderness,

Jesus returned in the power of the Spirit into Galilee, and a report concerning him went out through all the surrounding country. And he taught in their synagogues, being glorified by all.

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