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Many congregations will be observing Epiphany this weekend, even though the day itself doesn’t happen until Thursday. EPIPHANY comes from Greek, and is roughly translated as “manifestation” or “showing”. An AHA! moment. A sudden burst of light or understanding. In Church use, the Season of Epiphany stretches between Christmas and Lent, an awareness of God’s providence of a growing light to the nations… Those who worship with us will be confronted with the understanding of God’s involvement with all the people of the earth.

Third ISAIAH (after Chapter 55) is a collection of oracles delivered to the returned exiles from Babylon. In 60:1-6 the People are directed to “Arise! Shine!” for their light has come, and God’s glory will attract a throng of pilgrims: camels will come from Midian and Ephah and Sheba, some will carry gifts of gold & frankincense (you’ll have to bring your own mirth). It’s necessary to own the darkness and identify some of the places it still resides, yet we’re to focus on the growing Light, even now shining into cobwebbed corners. “Lift up your eyes and look around!”

EPHESIANS 3:1-12 is a sort of apology for including the Gentiles in holy-history. It speaks, though, to an ongoing confrontation of those who affirm “reality” with the ChristChild. The Establishment in the First Century wanted nothing to do with those–eww!–Gentiles, but the birth-stories of Jesus included the little ones, even some foreigners with symbols of devotion. The writer of Ephesians reminds us that God has searched out the aliens to begin with, bestowing the richness of God on all people even before the magi responded with their treasures.

MATTHEW 2:1-21 is a familiar story, often conflated into the Nativity celebration (now where IS my bathrobe?). It’s a tale of the Wise Ones meeting with insecure Herod to discuss the Star that has driven them to search for the Christ, whom the author identifies with the Messiah. This Star provided brilliant light to take them to the house where Jesus was–and then to bring them on “a different road” away from Herod and the surrounding dark. They say that Herod, on his deathbed, asked to have the curtains opened, so he could see the Star go out. It hasn’t yet.

Having recently been to the manger, we “go home” by a different road, changed pilgrims. And occasionally there are glimpses of holy light to give us guidance. Karen Pidcock-Lester reminds us (FEASTING on the WORD, C 1:194) that we are challenged “to move out of the waiting of Advent darkness and the mystery of Christmas dawning, and march into the brilliance of Epiphany’s bright day.”

In the process of unfolding, Horace Brown King

My encounter with scripture assigned to the upcoming weekend can be enjoined every Tuesday at horacebrownking.com

It’s the first day of Winter! That means that for the next three-plus months I’ll be wearing woolen socks and sweaters. Shorts and sandals will be stored until May. It’s good to have a change of seasons, which demands a change of clothes. We in the Great Northeast are ready to make the change–and I’ll be the first one in February to groan about the continued cold weather! Brave souls who still want Christmas this weekend will hear about changes, and be admonished to move forward in self-worth and compassion for others.

I SAMUEL 2:18-20 (26) tells a simple story about mother Hannah, rejoicing that she has a child, bringing new clothes each year to her son Samuel who lives at the shrine at Shiloh with Eli, the old priest. We read that the boy Samuel grew in stature; not a surprise, we’ve all seen kids seem bigger & taller than the last time. How then could Hannah know what size robe to make him? (Do we have nostalgic older relatives who insist on sending our adult children booties “to keep their little toes warm”?) But this isn’t a story about logistics, it’s an account of concerned parenting dealing with the newness of the ongoing years and creating “new clothes” to affirm them.

The author of COLOSSIANS 3: 12-17 writes, “As God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience…..Above all, clothe yourselves with love…” The metaphor seems warm & cozy, as the believers wrap themselves in these spiritual gifts. Here is a reference to the Body of Christ, dressed for service and worship. These garments have different functions–yet the whole wardrobe is to demonstrate the presence of God in Jesus.

The Gospel of LUKE (2:41-52) is our sole glimpse into the life of Jesus between the Incarnation and his baptism. This is how Mary remembers the occasion many years later: tradition says that Mary lived in Ephesus in her old age and that Luke visited her there to record these stories. Jesus like Samuel was growing each year; did Joseph mark his height on the door frame? In this “lost” tale of Jesus we can see our own kids, and probably ourselves as well! But here he was, “in his Father’s house”, putting aside his child-clothes and dressing in the traditions of the elders. Jesus went home with his folks and became an ideal child (?)–yet he knew that it was growing time to move on…

An early ritual of Baptism included the time when a candidate would shed his/her old clothes, and receive new ones as they emerged from the water. You could tell by their “uniform” that they had become disciples, and that they were ready to engage in whatever ministry was set before them. So these readings help us to decide what the well-dressed witness should put on: we’re often known by what we wear.

In the process of unfolding, Horace Brown King

My encounter with lessons to be read during worship in the upcoming weekend can be found every Tuesday at horacebrownking.com

Sheesh! Do I have writer’s block or what?! Maybe ‘cuz it’s the Last Sunday of Advent, e.g., the week just before Christmas. But the cards are (almost) finished and mailed, and my CharlieBrown tree lurks in the garage waiting to be dragged out and trimmed yet again… Nostalgia is in the air, and everyone dreams of a white Christmas complete with horsedrawn vehicles and wide-eyed children…(and outside plumbing?) So the readings which approach us on the weekend could be discarded as fantasy; but as for me and Grandpa, we believe!

Words attributed to the prophet MICAH (5:2-5a) look forward to a Messiah just like David, who can reclaim the land devoured by the Assyrians yet rule with the compassion of a shepherd. He yearns–don’t we all?–for the little guy (Bethlehem) to prevail over the giant who threatens with more power than we can comprehend. From a tiny and obscure village shall come the ruler who will conquer the world and who will provide for his people where there now has been wreckage. God continues salvation through an amazing reversal of power.

The Letter to the HEBREWS is difficult to understand for us who have but limited knowledge of Jewish tradition and theology. Verses 10:5-10 are no exception. The author reminds us that we humans can’t fix our battered lives, only Christ can. The birth and ensuing mission of Jesus was to reclaim the huddled masses yearning to breathe free from the superpowers both then and now. Psychologists tell us that much of our captivation is from inside, reflecting our embarrassments and anxieties. “The hopes and fears of all the years are met in thee tonight.”

LUKE 1:39-55 tells of Mary’s visit to her cousin Elizabeth, who was pregnant with John the Baptizer. Overwhelmed by the majesty of the moment, Mary brought us The Magnificat (compare with I Samuel 1:1-10, the Song of Hannah)– which makes a delightful responsive reading–again emoting about the Great Reversal. “[God] has brought down the powerful from their thrones, and lifted up the lowly; [God] has filled the hungry with good things, and sent the rich away empty…” Commonfolk through the ages have celebrated this providence and can smile at the Christmas message! “Two marginalized and pregnant women carry the future and proclaim the Messiah.” (Charles L. Campbell, FEASTING on the WORD, C 1:95) Advent is our opportunity to sing loudly about our hopeful expectations of the Great Reversal, God turning the world upside down!

The Grinch lives on. I have seen him snatch food from the tables of the developing world, and justice from the non-whites downtown. I’ve groaned when we’ve bombed Yemen, and when street-people give up on governmental forms which would make a law-firm cry. The Grinch reminds the poor and the poor-in-spirit that they’re nothing if they can’t afford the stuff they see on TV… BUT these Old Words that we may hear this weekend renew our self-worth, and make us appreciate those occasions–more than we know– when God does the Great Reversal.

In the process of unfolding, Horace Brown King

Come celebrate the accounts of God’s workmanship in the readings given for the upcoming weekend with me every Tuesday at horacebrownking.com.

I’ve always enjoyed the “Where’s Waldo?” pictures. I usually can identify Waldo, but sometimes I can’t. Four or five years ago, the Jr.Hi class at our church had a similar calendar, “Jesus in a Crowd”. Sometimes I could pick out Jesus, but sometimes there were several candidates! Sometimes I just didn’t know where Jesus was… Scriptures for this Third weekend in Advent point to where God might be, but they acknowledge that there’s always an identity problem. Those who hear these lessons join the rest of the weary world to hear the angels sing…

ZEPHANIAH (yes, that’s in the Old Testament, keep looking!) 3:14-20 speaks for God (pro-phet) in a frenzy of exultation: God will renew Israel in holy love, will remove disaster and deal with the oppressors. “And I will save the lame and gather the outcast, and I will change their shame into praise and renown in all the earth.” “Biblical thought always understands hope as the expectation of a good future which rests on God’s promise.” (Jurgen Moltmann in DICTIONARY of CHRISTIAN THEOLOGY) Here is an antidote for our fears of defeat and isolation, of insignificance and social poverty.

PHILIPPIANS 4:4-7 also tells the waiting, perhaps despondent, hearer that “the Lord is near.” We rejoice in not what we can see, but in that which we EXPECT God is doing in and around us, even now! Can we live in peace, even when society with all its -isms comes crashing around our shoulders? These Advent scriptures can give strong solace to those of us who despair that God is no longer to be found.

The Gospel reading is from LUKE 3:7-18, more about the activity of John the Baptizer bearing the light of Jesus to his neighborhood. “…one who is more powerful than I is coming…” We do well, says John, not to ignore the strength of the Coming One who may pollard our sacred trees and winnow the grain from the chaff! What shall we do? Treat others honestly and fairly, keep no more than we need. Those marked by baptism are expected to look forward to the presence of God to be seen all around, and most especially to show the Light through their loving actions.

Deborah A. Block reminds us that prophets “see God where nobody else would guess that God is present.” (FEASTING on the WORD, C 1:52) A story tells about a monastery which owned a retreat-shed in a far corner of its property. Nonetheless, the Abbott would often go there for solitary prayer and bemoan the declining number of monks. The village Rabbi also would occasionally make retreat there. One fine day, their paths crossed. “Ah, I’ve been waiting for you,” said the rabbi, “God has told me that the Messiah is in one of you!” The Abbott hurried back to his monks, and told them that the rabbi says “the Messiah is in one of you!” And a marvelous transformation occurred: each monk looked for and expected to find the Messiah in his neighbor. Soon the word of their spirituality and charity spread far and wide–and the few monks became many, much to the delight of the Abbott…

In the process of unfolding, Horace Brown King

You’re invited to join me in watching for the Messiah, every Tuesday at horacebrownking.com