Looking Forward: Sundays in January

Note: The following will be published in the January issue of Tidings, Immanuel's parish newsletter.

January 6: Epiphany - Epiphany is the earliest Christan festival besides Easter - earlier even than Christmas! It always falls on January 6, after the twelve days of Christmas are completed. It is considered one of the most important days of the Christian year, as it commemorates the Magi from the East coming to worship Jesus as true God in the flesh, the King of all mankind. This event (and the Gospel for this day) is recorded in Matthew 2:1-12.

January 13: The Baptism of Our Lord - Great feasts have an "octave," a recapitulation of the festival on the eighth day (or, one week later). The octave of Epiphany is January 13, which is the fixed date for remembering the Baptism of Jesus. We are privileged this year to have both January 6 and 13 fall on Sundays, which will give more people the opportunity to celebrate these great feasts. At the Baptism of Jesus (Matthew 3:13-17), we see that He stepped into our place, the Sinless One baptized as a sinner, in order to fulfill all righteousness for us and give us a Baptism into His sinlessness.

January 20: Septuagesima - Because Easter comes early this year (March 23), so does Lent, beginning on Ash Wednesday (February 6). The three Sundays before Ash Wednesday are known to traditional Christians as "Pre-Lent," signified by their funny names all ending in "-gesima." The names are approximations of the number of days until Easter; Septuagesima is about seventy days before Easter. On this day, we prepare for Lent by hearing the Parable of the Laborers in the Vineyard (Matthew 20:1-16). Christ our Lord is calling us to work, and He promises to give us far more than we deserve when the day is finished.

January 27: Sexagesima - Again looking toward Easter, Sexagesima reminds us that we now are only about sixty days away from the Resurrection celebration. The Parable of the Sower (Luke 8:4-15) tells us what we will need to be about in Lent and throughout our Christian life: keeping the Word of God with patience, bringing fruit to maturity while not getting consumed with the cares and riches of this life.