Monday 10 January 2011

Epiphany Theophany Baptism of Our Lord


Mass Intro:
In our Liturgy of Christmas/Epiphany we celebrate three Epiphanies.
The Crib at the back of the Church the Magi dramatize the first Epiphany.
The second Epiphany is of the Baptism of Jesus in the Jordan.
The third Epiphany is the of the Wedding in Cana.
Three manifestations of the Lord.
The word Epiphany is twined with the word Theophany – more familiar in the Orthodox Church.
These are , as it were, the particular Curtain Raisers on the stage of the Gospels, the unveiling, the appearing, apparitions.
One of the Fathers, expressing the experience of the mysteries of Epiphany  and Theophany, (more familiar in Orthodox Church) speaks of “presence”. He uses six times  the word “presence”.
The offering of our Mass is the deepening of our union with the presence of the Lord.
.. . .
Note.
In the Homily, we listened to hear of the Theophanies of the Bible.
We learned of Matthew in a difference from the other two Synoptics.
In the Trinity Theophany of the Baptism of Jesus, Mark and Luke use the more intimate address in the second person.
It is worth looking at the Gospel Harmony: Mt:3:16-17, Mk1:9-11, Lk 3:21-22.
(AMP). Jesus baptized by John in the Jordan
Mat 3:13-17
Mar 1:9-11
Luk 3:21-23
16  And when Jesus was baptized, He went up at once out of the water; and behold, the heavens were opened, and he [John] saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and alighting on Him.
17  And behold, a voice from heaven said, This is My Son, My Beloved, in Whom I delight! [Ps. 2:7; Isa. 42:1.]
9  In those days Jesus came from Nazareth of Galilee and was baptized by John in the Jordan.
10  And when He came up out of the water, at once he [John] saw the heavens torn open and the [Holy] Spirit like a dove coming down [to enter] into Him. [John 1:32.]
11  And there came a voice out from within heaven, You are My Beloved Son; in You I am well pleased. [Ps. 2:7; Isa. 42:1.]
21  Now when all the people were baptized, and when Jesus also had been baptized, and [while He was still] praying, the [visible] heaven was opened
22  And the Holy Spirit descended upon Him in bodily form like a dove, and a voice came from heaven, saying, You are My Son, My Beloved! In You I am well pleased and find delight! [Ps. 2:7; Isa. 42:1.]
 
Theophany
Theophany (from Greek theophania, meaning "appearance of God") is one of the Great Feasts of theOrthodox Church, celebrated on January 6. It is the feast which reveals the Most Holy Trinity to the world through the Baptism of the Lord (Mt.3:13-17; Mark 1:9-11; Luke 3:21-22).
Theophany. (Wikipedia)

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