Epiphany Sunday

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2 Corinthians 5:7 is the foundation of our Collect for this Epiphany Sunday, but you would not know it by simply reading it. — This is what 2 Corinthians 5:7 says: “For we walk by faith, not by sight.” — Now listen for these themes in the Collect, walking by faith and not by sight: “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”¹  

Finding the light of truth by sight or by faith, that is what is at stake here. On this matter, two of the last century’s most renowned scientists have put forward a debate about finding the light of truth that is seen with the eyes, against finding the light of truth that is seen with the heart by faith. — Most people today recognize the name Stephen Hawking. Dr. Hawking was an English theoretical physicist, cosmologist, and author who famously denied the existence of GOD. Hawking’s point of view was that the existence of GOD was not necessary for the universe to exist. He believed that all things could be explained by the scientific method of observation, testing, and explanation without the traditional position that a Creator GOD was necessary for ‘the light’ of existence to be explained. In other words, truth by sight, in exploration and discovery, is key. 

On the other hand, John Lennox, an Irishman and professor of mathematics at Oxford University in England, renowned for his writings on the intersectionality of science, philosophy, and religious faith, takes the counter position to Hawking. Lennox says that “either human intelligence ultimately owes its origin to mindless matter or to a thoughtful Creator.”² — And so, the debate between Hawking and Lennox goes as follows:  Hawking: ‘Religion is a fairy story for people who are afraid of the dark.’ — Lennox: ‘Atheism is a fairy story for people who are afraid of the light.’ — Interpretation: Truth can only be known by uncovering that which is dark, being brought into the light by human study and experimentation. On the other hand, truth can only be lightened by the light of divine revelation that comes only from GOD. — Human intellect or divine revelation – do we walk by sight, or do we walk by faith?    

The Epiphany of Christ, which means the ‘manifestation’ or ‘appearance’ of Christ, always brings out this debate. JESUS Christ, the One born King of the Jews – is He to be believed upon by faith or rejected for lack of sight; viz., the lack of evidence. Since the appearance of the miraculous star in the east, the world has been forced to choose which story is a fairy tale and which one is not. — Will humanity fear the dark and take action to overcome it by enlightened human intellect and understanding, or will mankind choose to believe in the inexplicable light that leads to truth without seeing – by faith? — The debate between Hawking and Lennox is framed perfectly for us in today’s Gospel lesson from St. Matthew 2. — Magi, or magicians (because they could foretell the times and seasons by what they saw in the stars), had come to the capital of the Hebrews from the east, most likely, Arabia. They came looking for the newborn King who they discerned had been born because of the miraculous ‘light’ they had seen in the night sky. 

Their knowledge would have been informed by the Scriptures and would have been recorded in the historical annals of Babylon and Persia. If you recall, Balaam was that soothsayer in the Book of Numbers who was hired by Balak, the king of the Moabites to curse Israel. Though he was a pagan soothsayer, the LORD GOD spoke to Balaam and even gave him a prophecy concerning the Jewish Messiah, the Christ. Balaam said, “I shall see him, but not now: I shall behold him, but not nigh: there shall come a Star out of Jacob, and a Scepter shall rise out of Israel…” (Numbers 24.17). Being a renowned prophet those peoples in the east, his prophecy would have been retained in the Babylonian libraries that were still in existence at the time of JESUS. These Magi, these magicians of the sky, would have known Balaam’s prophecy and they would have been looking for the Star that he had predicted would rise out of Jacob, thirteen centuries earlier. As such, this person, the Scepter of Jacob, would be great and worthy of their praise. 

Now, if the prophecy of Balaam was of interest to the Magi, then what Daniel had to say concerning the timing of the appearance of the Star of Jacob would have astounded them. — Recall that Daniel was a captive Hebrew in exile in Babylon – a grand city of the east. Daniel was given a vision by the Archangel Gabriel about the coming of the Messiah seven centuries in the future. Gabriel told Daniel, “Know therefore, and understand, that from the going forth of the command to restore and build Jerusalem until Messiah the Prince [comes], there shall be seven weeks and sixty-two weeks…” (Daniel 9.25). Now, from the time of the decree to rebuild Jerusalem by Persian king, Artaxerxes, to the time that the Magi would have been looking for the Star of Jacob, would have been the time predicted by Gabriel of the rising of the Sceptre of Israel. Thus, the Magi saw what they believed would come – that which was predicted by Balaam and Daniel. And this Star – this miraculous light – set them upon a magnificent journey to the capital Jerusalem, in Israel. Due to the prophecies and all that was expected of this grand person, the Magi came to pay homage, with respect, to the one that was foreseen as a great king of a millennium earlier.    

Thus, coming to Herod’s palace in Jerusalem, the Magi were in the dark, for the One they were seeking was not to be found there. Astrology and history could only bring them so far in the discovery of the light of the truth. The Magi were brought to King Herod, and when pressed to understand where the Messiah was to be born, (Herod wanting to snuff out his rival), the whole kingly court consulted the chief priest and scribes, demanding to know which place in Israel the Sceptre was first to rise. These religious leaders told them that Micah had made mention on the birthplace of the Messiah, GOD’s Anointed, as Bethlehem. Micah had written: “But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, though you are little among the thousands of Judah; Yet out of you shall come forth to Me the One to be Ruler in Israel, whose goings forth are from of old, from everlasting” (Micah 5.2). — Their studied observation of the heaven and the collective wisdom of history could only go so far – the Magi had to consult the Holy Scriptures in order to find the Savior. It is no different for us, the Church. — Oftentimes, we think we are so near unto the LORD and His Light, but if we avoid the Scriptures, consulting science and history alone, we will miss the coming of the King. It is true that many times, “those who are nearest to the means, are furthest from the end.”³   

Now, being devoid of faith and any curiosity to know if the Scriptures and the prophets of old were telling the truth, Herod dismissed the Magi, sending them on their errand. With only the certification of a city of destination and the verification of the appropriate time, the Magi were at a crossroads as to how to find the light of truth. Would they choose the fairytale of darkness, or the fairytale of light? Would they use their sight to seek the truth and find the Child, or would they trust Heaven by faith to lighten their path? — Matthew tells us that they chose the path of faith. — For at that moment, the ‘star’, this miraculous light that they had seen in the sky in the east – the light that had led them to Jerusalem – reappeared. “And when they saw the star, they rejoiced with exceeding great joy,” the Bible says. (Matthew 2.10) “The star had left them for a great while, when they encountered the people of Jerusalem, but now it returned. — They who follow God in the dark (by faith), shall find that light is sown and reserved for them who walk by faith, that they might see and find the truth. For as Israel was led by a pillar of fire to the promised land, sight unseen, so the wise men by a star were led, to the promised Seed of Abraham.”⁴  — “The star which they had seen in the East went before them, till it came and stood over where the young Child was … And when they had come into the house, they saw the young Child with Mary His mother and fell down and worshipped Him. And when they had opened their treasures, they presented gifts to Him: gold, frankincense, and myrrh” (Matthew 2.9-11).  

One commentator has remarked that “The Magi called Christ the King of the Jews, for so the Messiah was expected to be – He is Protector and Ruler of all spiritual Israel – He is born their King. And undoubtedly, when they arrived from the East, they expected to find all Jerusalem worshipping at the feet of this prophesied King from time immemorial. Yet, these men go from door to door with this question, ‘Where is He that is born King of the Jews?’, but no man can give them any information. — There is more gross ignorance in the world that walks by sight concerning salvation and our rescue from darkness, than we are aware of. Many that we think should direct us to the light of truth, are themselves strangers to it, though their eyes are wide open. — Brothers and sisters, we must protect ourselves from false light and false Christs who project light that cannot be seen by faith, but only by sight. For St. Paul warns: “Satan himself transforms himself into an angel of light,” (2 Corinthians 11.14), thus, we would be wise not put up with fools gladly. We must look for the Epiphany and Manifestation of truth, which can be found in the face of JESUS Christ alone, by faith, and not by sight. This is what our Collect is driving at this Epiphany Sunday. 

Faith, informed by the holy Scriptures and prophecies of old, this is how the Magi walked, finding the Christ – the King of the Jews – that they might worship Him. — We, the Church, with the same Scriptures and prophecies, are challenged to do the same. As the Magi did, we are also called to walk by faith and not by sight. This is our challenge daily, and the Apostle Peter exhorts us, saying, “Because we have the prophetic word(s) [of the Old and New Testament Scriptures] confirmed, [we would do] well to heed them, as a light that shines in a dark place…” (2 Peter 1.19). — The light of the knowledge of the glory of GOD, and therefore all truth, has been commanded to shine in the face of JESUS Christ. Yet, mysteriously, that light can only be found in the heart by faith, and not by the machinations of the workings of sight through human enlightenment.  — As proof of this fact, we are told in the Scriptures that men travelled from the East to the West to find it – shepherds left their flocks in the field by night to gaze upon it – thousands came to be healed because of it – and generation after generation hope to be transformed by the power of it – the light to enlighten the Gentiles – the glory of GOD’s people Israel – it can only be found in the face of JESUS Christ, and it can only be found by faith.   

Dear Church, the debate rages on. Some say that religion is a fairy story for people who are afraid of the dark – afraid to walk by sight, trusting human intelligence to lighten the path to truth instead of a hopeless religion. — Others say that atheism is a fairy story for people who are afraid of the light – afraid to walk by faith, trusting divine revelation to lighten their path unto truth, instead of human progressivism. — Interestingly, but not surprisingly, JESUS, the King of the Jews, as the Magi called Him, has weighed in on this debate. He said, “I am the light of the world. He who follows Me shall not walk in darkness but will have the light of life” (John 8.12). — Which fairy story will you believe in for truth? — Whichever one it is, like our Collect prayer has said, I hope it will allow you the fruition of the vision of the Godhead, at the end of this life, and in the life to come. Amen. 

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1 1928 Book of Common Prayer, 107. 

2 JohnLennox.org. “Home Page”. Accessed 8 January 2026. https://www.johnlennox.org. 

3-4 Henry, Matthew. BlueLetterBible.org. “Commentary on Matthew 2.” Accessed 10 January 2026. https://www.blueletterbible.org/Comm/mhc/Mat/Mat_002.cfm?a=931006.