The Liturgical Home: How Epiphany Prepares Us for Lent
We’re still enjoying the glow of Christmastide when Epiphany comes, bright, radiant, and full of revelation. The season begins with the Wise Men, led by a star, arriving to worship the child King, and ends with the blinding glory of the Transfiguration. It’s a season of manifestations, of seeing Jesus clearly for who he truly is: God in the flesh, the Light of the world. But what if I told you that all this brightness is actually preparing us for something darker?
Epiphany isn’t a “pause” between Christmas and Lent. It’s a bridge. A purposeful movement from joy to repentance, from light into the necessary shadows of self-examination.
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What Is Manifested During Epiphany?
From the moment we celebrate the Feast of the Epiphany (January 6), we’re invited to look up, to pay attention. The Church doesn’t leave us with a sentimental snapshot of the baby in the manger. Instead, she says, “Look! The Light has come into the world. Let us see what this Light reveals.”
Here are some of the key manifestations we encounter during this season:
1. Jesus is the Light for All Nations
The Magi come from the East, led by a star. They are Gentiles, outsiders, and yet they are drawn to worship. Right from the beginning, we’re shown that this Messiah is not for Israel alone, but for the whole world. Salvation is for the nations.
For those of us trying to raise our children in the faith or witness to our communities, this is huge. Epiphany reminds us that Jesus came to draw all people to Himself. There is no boundary His love cannot cross.
2. Jesus is the Beloved Son
On the first Sunday after Epiphany, we hear the story of Christ’s Baptism in the Jordan. The heavens open, the Spirit descends like a dove, and the Father declares:
“This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.”
Matthew 3:17; Mark 1:11; Luke 3:22
It’s a powerful revelation of the Trinity, and a confirmation that Jesus’ public ministry is about to begin. He is not just a gifted teacher. He is the Son of God. Epiphany roots us in this identity, so that as we approach Lent, we know whom we’re following into the wilderness.
3. Jesus is the Miracle Worker
In the weeks that follow, we read about the wedding at Cana, where Jesus turns water into wine; his calling of the disciples, where ordinary men leave everything to follow him; and the healing of the sick. These stories aren’t just historical accounts; they’re revelations. They show us what it means that God is among us. He restores, provides, calls, and heals.
The Church places these stories before us in Epiphany to awaken faith, so that when Lent asks something difficult of us, we’ve already remembered who this Jesus is.
4. Jesus is Glorified—Even Before the Cross
The final Sunday of Epiphany brings us to the Transfiguration. Jesus ascends a mountain with Peter, James, and John. There, his face shines like the sun, his garments become dazzling white, and Moses and Elijah appear beside him.
This is a hinge moment. We glimpse his glory before he sets his face toward Jerusalem. The voice from Heaven speaks again:
“This is my beloved Son, listen to him.”
Matthew 17:6; Mark 9:7; Luke 9:35
And then, the light fades, and they descend the mountain. The shadow of the cross looms near.
We don’t just observe these moments as nice theological footnotes. We see ourselves in them. The Magi leave their kingdoms. The disciples drop their nets. The wedding guests witness abundance where there was lack. And we, too, are invited to witness and respond, to behold the glory of God and be changed by it.
The Church, in her wisdom, doesn’t let us enter Lent without first beholding these revelations. She wants us to remember that the One we follow into suffering is the radiant Son of God.
Why We Need Epiphany Before Lent
Without Epiphany, Lent might feel abrupt or even arbitrary. Why are we fasting? Why are we being called to repentance? Why the ashes, the solemn hymns, the purple vestments?
But with Epiphany, we understand: we have seen the Light. We have beheld the glory of the only begotten Son. And having seen him clearly, how can we not follow him, even into the desert?
Epiphany teaches us to see, and Lent teaches us to respond. It’s no coincidence that the Gospel for Ash Wednesday is full of verbs: Give. Pray. Fast. Repent. Lent is the season of doing. But we can only act rightly once we have rightly seen.
We must see Jesus as he is, the Light to the Gentiles, the Beloved Son, the Miracle Worker, the Transfigured One. That vision steadies us for the journey. Otherwise, Lent becomes a spiritual self-improvement project rather than a journey to the Cross.
Practicing This in the Home
In our homes, we can make this transition with gentle intention:
- Keep a candle lit at dinner for the remainder of Epiphany, as a visual reminder of Christ’s light.
- Go over each of the “epiphanies” with your children. Talk about what each story reveals about Jesus.
- Celebrate the last big feast before Lent, Transfiguration Sunday, honoring that pivotal moment with food, light, and Scripture. This should not be confused with the Feast of the Transfiguration on August 6th, but you can use the same celebrations.
- Begin preparing your hearts for Lent by introducing themes of fasting, repentance, and almsgiving, without rushing the season. (Share a link/picture of my guidebook on Lent?)
From Vision to Obedience
Here’s the truth: revelation always demands a response.
The Magi go home by another road. The disciples leave their nets. Peter offers to put up three tents. When Christ is revealed, the faithful respond.
Epiphany is not just about seeing Jesus; it’s about learning how to follow him. And that’s exactly what Lent will ask of us.
So don’t skip over the rest of this season. Soak it in. Read the Gospel texts slowly. Let the prayers of the Church work on your heart. Light candles. Practice joy. Let Epiphany do its quiet work of preparing you for the fast.
Why? Because Lent is coming. The ashes will be placed on our foreheads. The wilderness will call. But thanks be to God, we have seen the Light. And having seen him, we can trust him. We can follow him—even to the cross, even to the tomb—and even, wonder of wonders, to that same empty tomb at dawn.
Arise, shine, for your light has come, and the glory of the Lord has risen upon you.
Isaiah 60:1
Image by Sebastian Moldoveanu, courtesy of Canva. Digitally edited by Jacob Davis.
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