Epiphany Enlightenment
January is a time of new beginnings and hopeful resolutions—a time for new opportunities to explore bright ideas. In the theological world, it is a season called ‘Epiphany.’ This is the season where we see what is revealed and awakened as we look to the story of the three wise sages in the Christmas Story. Following a brilliant star, they come bearing symbolic gifts to the newborn child, Jesus. Epiphany celebrates this new season of ‘aha!’ and awareness. It is a mythic call to wisdom.
In January, Hillhurst United explored bright ideas by welcoming wise visitors from the west (from Vancouver School of Theology) to share their passion and insight. For four Saturday mornings, the professors led a series called Epiphany Explorations. Over 500 individuals have joined in the conversation.
We began with New Testament scholar Dr. Harry Maier, who kicked off the series by inviting listeners into the subversive nature of parables as a way to awaken the unconventional wisdom about the kin-dom of God. Likening it to a weed that is tenacious and abundant, he suggested that parables were often unlikely surprises rather than one moral point or a riddle.
“It is more about an expansive, generous, even humorous view of God’s grace overturning people’s personal piety,” he suggests. “It is like going grocery shopping in Calgary and ending up in Saskatoon, saying ‘How did I get here?'” Unexpected surprises rather than pedantic moralism.
Secondly, we welcomed Dr. Ross Lockhart, Professor of Mission Studies, who shared his research on Christianity in Vancouver—the most secular postal code in Canada.
Paralleling the research with Calgary, he suggested the call of the ‘cathedral of nature’ is challenging the draw to local churches for people to attend on Sundays. He said this inevitable call requires people to find new ways and times to meet, and a need to overcome the hesitancy to share the good news of the Christian faith. He likened it to our connection to democracy.
“Most people, if asked ‘Do you believe in democracy?’ would reply, ‘Yes’ 9-10 in favour. If asked, ‘Did you vote?’ it may be more like 6-10 who would say ‘Yes.’ Finally, if asked, ‘Are you a member of a political party?’ maybe 2-10!”
This parallels the same way people view religion. There is an overall openness but a lack of commitment to show up. “We need to help people engage, commit, and share good news to help transform the world.”
The symposium also welcomed Rabbi Dr. Laura Duhan-Kaplan, Director of VST’s Inter-religious Studies Program and Professor of Jewish Studies, to reflect on her book: From the Mouth of the Donkey: Re-imagining Biblical Animals.
The book looks at the role of animals in the Bible to be the mouthpiece of God. Duhan-Kaplan uses four kabbalistic levels of analysis: peshat, plain meaning; derash, exposition of recurring ethical themes; remez, hints to allegorical meanings; and sod, secret allusions to God’s true nature.
Duhan-Kaplan also sees animals as symbols of how we might engage in Indigenous/settler peace and friendship treaties, and how they apply to the reconciliation process our country is currently undergoing. Rabbi Laura uses humour and a whimsical approach to the stories to help us see the humorous side of the stories and perhaps their wise intent.
The Epiphany series concluded with Dr. Mari Joerstad, Academic Dean and Professor of Hebrew Bible, who explored the role of anger in the Hebrew scriptures as a way to motivate change. While some see the image of God in the Old Testament as angry, vindictive, and patriarchal, Joerstad reminds people that often justice movements emerge from people who have seen the wrong, and anger fuels their deep desire for right relations.
As a common sense instructor, she sees the Hebrew scriptures as a collection of stories of how we are called to care for the earth, asking the question: “What if we treated all of creation—plants and stars, soil and rivers—as our kin?”
Joerstad proclaims, “Understanding Biblical texts is not simply an intellectual exercise, but an exercise in how to live.”
Climate justice has always been part of her story and our attention to this makes it our collective calling. It is a call for faithful folk to familiarize themselves and to root themselves in the scriptures, seeking wisdom on the journey.
Epiphany is about exploring awakening, about new ideas and engaging in world transformation. It is about new ways of thinking and being. This has been our hope and invitation to people who wished to entertain a new way to start the year, grounded in good theology where the Bible and newspaper are partners in a relevant theology.
John Pentland (PhD) is minister at Hillhurst United. He has served in rural and suburban churches and was at the United Way of Calgary on a project on civil society. Dr. John served on the VST Board of Governors from 2009–2017. He is the author of Fishing Tips: How Curiosity Transformed a Community of Faith.
This article first appeared in the Calgary Herald, January 26, 2024.