Theophany, along with Easter and Christmas, comprise the 3 great Holy Days of the Church year. We hold this trilogy of commemorations because they contain the essence of our Faith Tradition; they hold the mystery of the Divine Trinity. Our liturgical and cultural practices persistently reinforce the number 3, so that its symbolism of eternity, wholeness, and dynamic movement vibrates through our collective being. The Trinity presents God as infinite love. This Love is so great that it cannot be thought of as contained—Love continually flows beyond self to other—in this way being triune and, as such, encompassing us, humanity, in its outpouring.

We reflect Christ’s baptism in the Jordan River in our Baptismal sacrament, using water to mark our entry into the family of the Church. Because of the Theophany, when we saw God as Heavenly (invisible), human (embodied), and spirit (everywhere), the river water was sanctified and thus we believe all earthly matter is sanctified, including humanity, including you and me.

And so together, we drink the water blessed at church, we eat the blessed food at our Kutia, and we love each other into the wholeness of the Trinity of God.