Photo by Sergey Zhesterev on Unsplash
Dear Children of God,
Whatever the Winter-version of “the Dog Days of Summer” is, that’s where we are right now. The beautiful lights brightening Christmas are coming down for another year. All that’s left – bare trees, cold days, and … the good news of Spring’s promise! It may be dark, dead, and cold now; but we can sense a light in the darkness. It’s faint, but it shows Spring will return in a few months!
Epiphany is a church season of faint light in the darkness too. After the “glory of the Lord” and the songs of choirs of angels announce the birth of our Savior, a single light illuminates the sky. This light shines on the home of Jesus, His mother Mary, and Mary’s husband Joseph. It led some men to Him – bringing gifts and worshiping Him. Then the light vanished. And the men went home – not unlike our visitors who brightened our lives for a few moments, helping us celebrate Christmas, before going away.
Isaiah writes of gloom the darkness can bring, but also of the hope a single light provides, “For behold, darkness shall cover the earth, and thick darkness the peoples; but the Lord will arise upon you, and His glory will be seen upon you.” (Isaiah 60:2) God’s promise of a growing light, all because of Jesus’ birth, bursts forth here and throughout His word.
It seemed darker than ever after the “wise men’s” visit (Matthew 2:13-18). However, as we move through Epiphany the light of Jesus’ glory grows – from His baptism, to the calling of His disciples, to His revealing God’s will in the Sermon on the Mount. Until finally, the “glory of the Lord” reveals Jesus’ true identity as He is transfigured before Peter, James, and John (Matthew 17:1-9).
Even today it might seem darkness has overtaken the world. But we live with the certain promise of eternal life in God’s unending glory (Revelation 21:23-26) all because of a single light, shining over a home in Bethlehem, illuminating it for some “wise men from the east” – and us.
In Christ’s Love,
Pastor Jim