Epiphany: When Heaven Opened and Life Was Renewed

In the Name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit, One God. Amen.
May the blessing of the Father who calls us, and His Only Begotten Son Jesus Christ who saves us, and the Holy Spirit who sanctifies and transforms us be with us all, that we may hear His word and bear fruit, thirty, sixty, and a hundredfold. Amen.

Beloved brothers and sisters,

Today the Church celebrates the Feast of the Epiphany, also called Theophany, the feast of divine revelation. At the Jordan River, God did not send a message. God revealed Himself. Heaven opened, the Son stood in the water, the Holy Spirit descended like a dove, and the Father’s voice was heard saying:

“This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.” (Matthew 3:17, NKJV)

This feast is not only something we remember. It is something we enter.

Point One: Christ Did Not Need Baptism, We Did

When Saint John the Baptist saw Christ approaching, he was confused and afraid. He said:

“I need to be baptized by You, and are You coming to me?” (Matthew 3:14, NKJV)

John knew who Christ was. Christ had no sin. He needed no repentance. So why did He insist on entering the water?

Because He entered for us.

Christ stepped into the Jordan not to be cleansed, but to cleanse. He did not come to be sanctified by the water. He came to sanctify the waters, and through them, to sanctify us. The Lord stood among sinners, though He Himself was sinless, to lift us out of our fallen condition.

This is our God. Not distant, not proud, not detached, but humble, near, and saving.

Point Two: Epiphany Is the Public Revelation of the Holy Trinity

At the Jordan, for the first time in history, the Holy Trinity was revealed openly.

  • The Son is baptized in the water.
  • The Holy Spirit descends like a dove.
  • The Father speaks from heaven.

This is why the Church calls the feast Epiphany, the manifestation of God.

Our faith is not an idea. It is life with the Father, through the Son, in the Holy Spirit. Every baptism in the Church is Trinitarian. Every prayer we pray is Trinitarian. Every blessing flows from the Holy Trinity.

Christianity is not simply believing in God. It is living in communion with Him.

Point Three: Obedience Comes Before Mission

One of the most powerful lessons of Epiphany is this: Christ obeyed before He preached.

The Lord did not begin His ministry with miracles or crowds. He began it with obedience and humility. Though He was the Son, He submitted to baptism. Though He was Lord, He accepted the path of righteousness.

Only after the Jordan did Christ begin to preach, heal, and save.

This teaches us something essential. There is no blessed ministry without obedience. There is no spiritual power without humility.

We often want results before surrender and glory before obedience. Christ shows us the order. Obedience first, then fruit.

Point Four: Saint John the Baptist, Great Because He Decreased

Today we also honor Saint John the Baptist, the greatest born of women. His greatness was not in holding attention, but in pointing away from himself.

“He must increase, but I must decrease.” (John 3:30, NKJV)

John prepared the way, and when Christ appeared, he stepped aside. He did not compete. He did not cling. He rejoiced to fade so Christ could be revealed.

This is true greatness in the Church. Not to replace Christ, but to lead others to Him.

Parents, servants, leaders, we are not called to be the center. We are called to prepare hearts for Christ.

Point Five: Epiphany Calls Us Back to Our Baptism

Beloved, Epiphany is not only about what happened to Christ. It is about what happened to us.

  • We were buried with Christ and raised with Him.
  • We became children of God.
  • We received the Holy Spirit.
  • We entered the life of the Church.

Epiphany asks us today: Are we living as baptized people?

Are we renewing repentance? Are we walking in humility? Are we remembering who we became in the water?

The Jordan was sanctified once, but its grace continues to flow in every baptism, every confession, and every return to God.

Conclusion: Heaven Is Still Open

On the Feast of the Epiphany, heaven opened, and it has never closed again.

  • Heaven is open.
  • Grace is poured out.
  • The Holy Spirit dwells among us.

May the Lord who sanctified the waters sanctify our hearts. May the Holy Trinity draw us into divine communion. And may we, like Saint John, prepare the way for Christ in our lives.

May the Lord bless us, transform our hearts and minds, that our homes may stand on the Rock, our hands serve in the harvest, and our hearts long for Heaven. Amen.