By the time we get to Epiphany Sunday, for most people, the season of “gift giving” is over. The sea of presents from Christmas has been mostly put away, the decorative trees and lights are coming down, and, having celebrated New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day, people are moving on to resume their lives, hoping for a positive year. Stores, no longer selling Christmas, are already focused on St. Valentine’s Day. The thrill of the holiday season has passed. For most, Epiphany just doesn’t have the “zing” that Christmas did!

In fact, even in Jesus’ day, Epiphany happens at a much later date than you probably imagine. Most likely visiting the Bethlehem household sometime in Jesus’ first or second year of life, the initial “Gloria in excelsis deo” (or in the case of Mary and Joseph….their initial…