Coming into the light.........

It is Epiphany.  Today actually, January 6th.  It is the day the Church sets for the arrival of the 3 Kings/Wise Men/Wise Guys at the house of Jesus, who was probably between 1-2 years old.

Epiphany.  It means:  from the light or into the light.   We church folk sometimes say, "to be made manifest' which of course means nothing to most folks.  So I'll put it this way.  You know when someone in the comics has a great idea and that little light bulb that goes off over their head?  That's an epiphany.  An "I get it" "I see" moment.

In the Church, what we are asked to 'see' is Jesus being revealed as God's son.    We always start with the baptism of Jesus, week 1.  Then there is the miracle at the wedding in Cana on week 2.

This year we read from Luke 4 when Jesus announces his mission to release the captives and give sight to the blind, and then the folk from his hometown want to kill him (uppity Jesus!) in week 4.  We always end with the story of the Transfiguration the last week before Ash Wednesday when Jesus is transfigured and seen standing with the long dead Moses and Elijah.

From each of these we learn a little more about who this Christmas baby is and what he's about in the world.  He is anointed by the Holy Spirit, able to bring the power of God into the details of everyday life, committed to the oppressed of this world and not subject to the wild opinions of his neighbors.  He is the Beloved Son of God, heir to Moses and Elijah.  He is the long awaited one.

I would hope that these are very familiar stories that, at the same time, offer to you new insights.  Insights about who you are called to be; insights about how you are called to act in the world; insights about what your mission might be.  It is the Holy Spirit that opens these long ago stories and reveals eternal truths to us.  But the Holy Spirit also opens your consciousness, your heart or your mind to the very particular truth of these stories for you and for your life.

For us to immerse ourselves in Epiphany, our question is How is the Holy Spirit calling me to be a change agent in the very ordinary times of this life?  How might I act to bring grace to others?

or, Why am I so taken by this story that my child brought home from school?  Is it the Holy Spirit prompting me to pay attention to an injustice, or the deep need of another?

or, Isn't it time I simply did what I know to be right and ignore the voices of the dissenters around me?  Can the Holy Spirit help me do that?

When the revealing of Jesus becomes your call to walk in the light of Christ, this all becomes your Epiphany.  Listen and pay attention.  The Spirit is on the loose and there is much to be done.