Light from Light

On the twelfth day of Christmas,
my true love sent to me
Twelve drummers drumming,
Eleven pipers piping,
Ten lords a-leaping,
Nine ladies dancing,
Eight maids a-milking,
Seven swans a-swimming,
Six geese a-laying,
Five golden rings,
Four calling birds,
Three French hens,
Two turtle doves,
And a partridge in a pear tree! 
Christmas is over. The Epiphany, January 6, is one of the seven Principal Feasts of the Church (BCP 15), marking the beginning of the Epiphany Season, or the Season after the Epiphany, or for most liturgical churches Ordinary Time. Predating Christmas, the Epiphany was observed in the early Christian church before the birth of Christ came to be observed and celebrated.
In the Western Church, the Epiphany is marked by the coming of the Magi (Matthew 2:1-12), often called the manifestation of Christ to the gentiles. 
But the earliest observance was in the Eastern Church, apparently mid-fourth century CE, the Epiphany illuminated by the Baptism of Christ, and the voice from heaven, “You are my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased,” marking the incarnation, the holy nativity of Christ.
Epiphany means appearance, shining, as in light shining down from heaven. Thus, the Western observance in the Star of Bethlehem, and in the Eastern observance the appearance of the Holy Spirit and the enlightening voice from heaven.
The NT Greek quotation above, “the light in the darkness shines,” is from John 1:5, the prologue in which the evangelist proclaims Christ the Word of God as the Light.
Our lectionary readings for the Epiphany Season include instances of epiphanic proclamation in the Scripture as well as opportunities for our own enlightenment, realization, the light bulb coming on in our head. In our Adult Christian Education at HNEC, both Sunday School and Tuesday Morning Bible Seminar, one part of the enlightenment will be looking through the books of the Apocrypha for enjoyment and discovery.
If your true love didn’t send your twelve drummers drumming, it’s too late. But you can have the partridge and pears for dinner.
TW+

We have a dear old friend of Greek heritage whose birthday is January 6. Marking that day, his name is Photis, meaning Light. Happy birthday, Photis.