Grace unto you, and peace, from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ
News of the Order and commentary appear after the Proper Collect, Epistle and Gospel
The Epiphany
or the Manifestation of Christ to the Gentiles
[January 6]
Chrysostom on Ephesians iii.1 ff
O GOD, who by the leading of a star didst manifest thy only-begotten Son to the Gentiles; Mercifully grant that we, who know thee now by faith, may after this life have the fruition of thy glorious Godhead; through the same thy Son Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
the Gentiles should be fellow-heirs, and of the same body, and partakers of his promise in Christ by the gospel
Ephesians iii. 1 & Matthew ii. 1
Homily of Chrysostom on Ephesians iii. 1ff
BULLETIN
quotation
The story of the magi not only a bygone fact in history, but of everyday application to ourselves.
[Leo of Rome]
calendar
Typasius, Legionary of Tigava, Martyr - January 11th
news
bidding prayers
For our friends in Kenya: for their safety and an end to political strife there-with justice and freedom and recovery of good order.
Commentary
Our season of Christmastide of 12 days closes as we observe the Feast of the Epiphany today. This is the Second most important feast in the East, where the Baptism of Christ is the major theme. I endorse the readings that Brother Chris has sent from the Orthodox Church for this week, in that regard.
The date of 6 January is tied to dates that the early Church in the East, calculated for the birth of Christ based on their estimate of the Passion and corresponding conception of Christ. This article Calculating Christmas is very informative, and credibly dismisses the ideas that any pagan feast of the sun or of the winter solstice was the basis for Christmas – as I think was proffered by the malicious writings of Dale Brown. The Western Church later observed 6 January as well, but looked at the coming of the Wise Men and the showing forth of Christ to the Gentiles, as the Sun of Righteousness, for its theme. In the American prayer book, the American fathers changed the Sunday after the Epiphany to reflect the baptism of Christ – picking up on the ancient Epiphany theme.
In that this Sunday is a special Feast day of the Church, I've set aside the study of psalms of Augustine, and rather feature for the first time the homily of Chrysostom on Ephesians. He wrote,
"Which in other generations was not made known unto the sons of men, as it hath now been revealed unto His holy Apostles and Prophets in the Spirit." [Eph iii. ]
What then, tell me, did not the Prophets know it? How then doth Christ say, that Moses and the Prophets wrote "these things concerning Me?" And again, "If ye believed Moses, ye would believe Me." (John v. 46.) And again, "Ye search the Scriptures, because ye think that in them ye have eternal life, and these are they which bear witness of me." (John v. 39.) His meaning is this, either that it was not revealed unto all men, for he adds, "which in other generations was not made known unto the sons of men, as it hath now been revealed;" or else, that it was not thus made known by the very facts and realities themselves, "as it hath now been revealed unto His holy Apostles and Prophets in the Spirit." For reflect. Peter, had he not been instructed by the Spirit, never would have gone to the Gentiles. For hear what he says, "Then hath God given unto them the Holy Ghost, as well as unto us." (Acts x. 47.) That it was by the Spirit that God chose that they should receive the grace. The Prophets then spoke, yet they knew it not thus perfectly; so far from it, that not even did the Apostles, after they had heard it. So far did it surpass all human calculation, and the common expectation.
In reflection on Chrysostom's words above on this Epiphany, I am reminded of a passage I read yesterday as part of the OT History Course from Covenant Seminary (which we encourage this course for study through the Order's Centurion Seminary). V Philips Long reminded readers in the Art of Biblical History of the light that comes forth to the world in God's word in the perspicuity ( or clarity) of Scripture… but also of the "need for the illumination of the Spirit of God … and that some may not be illuminated but, 'darkened in their understanding and separated from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them due to the hardening of their hearts' (Eph 4:18, cf Rom 1:21) Illuminans Altissimus- Abmrose – Epiphany Hymn - Sung on this day in Church history as the feeding of the 5,000 was also remembered (altissimus Latin of a type of oat). Ambrose wrote much of the light coming into the world-God's showing forth of his divinity through his Son, just review the lists of titles here and one may see, click on a link and listen to the modern rendition of the ancient Ambrosian hymns in this season of Epiphany
Eternal Glory of the Sky
The Dawn is Sprinkling in the East
The Day Draws on with Golden Light
O Christ Who art the Light of Day
Now that the Daylight Fills the Sky
Now the Sun in Gleaming Bright
Above the Starry Spheres
The Morning Kindles all the Sky
O God of Truth, O Lord of Might
O Splendor of God's Glory Bright
Α ☧ Ω
Order of Centurions
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"Let us therefore follow after the things which make for peace, and things wherewith one may edify another" [St. Paul's Epistle to the Romans 14:19]
IN HOC SIGNO VINCES - TIME DEUM ET OPERARE IUSTITIAM
www.OrderofCenturions.org
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"Let us therefore follow after the things which make for peace, and things wherewith one may edify another" [St. Paul's Epistle to the Romans 14:19]
IN HOC SIGNO VINCES - TIME DEUM ET OPERARE IUSTITIAM
www.OrderofCenturions.org
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