THEOLOGICAL CLUE

As the Epiphany season nears its conclusion, the homiletical framework of the season con-tinues to thin out and the role of the readings becomes more important for the establishment of the theme for the day. Under the older church year, this would be Sexagesima Sunday, the second of the "three-to-get-ready for Lent" Sundays. They were removed from the church year's "Pre-Lent" and added to Epiphany simply because they had become part of Lent, making Lent, in effect, nine and a half weeks long. If there is any value in extending the length of Epiphany, it is simply that the second readings from 1 Corinthians and the gospel from Matthew are given the task of establishing the theme of the day. At best, the theological clue, manifestation/ministry, is indistinct on this Sunday…