Hasn’t it been dark, in the mornings? As much as I like this time of year, I could get into each new day so much better if there were a little more light! Late-night prowlers and secret lovers cling to the dark; but here, at the bottom of the year, it seems right and proper to celebrate the Epiphany, the Season of Light.
The Old Testament reading to begin Epiphany reflects the Third prophet Isaiah’s faithful hopes for renewal: “Your light has come, and the glory of the Lord has risen upon you.” (60:1) He says that even though the whole world is overcast with Evil and Selfishness, there is divine Glory upon people of the Promise. Seeing this light, the hopeful and the watchful from earth’s farthest bounds will come bringing gold and frankincense, proclaiming the praise of the Lord.
The Epistle from Ephesians introduces St. Paul’s mission to bring the light of Christ to (even) the Gentiles (3:8-10) . He says that “through the church the wisdom of God in its rich variety might now me made known…” No small responsibility! This puts us Believers in league with Seers and Magi, entrusted to be diligent in our search for the Christ, and to realize the immensity of the gifts we bear in his name!
Nor could we celebrate Epiphany without the WiseMen, traveling from “the East” as ambassadors of expectant nations of the world.(Matthew 2:1-12) Legend gives them camels, and says that there were three: one for each gift? one for each of the major races of the world? Attracted by the Light, they questioned Herod, that dark representative of political intrigue, government arrogance and worldly affectation. And having met the ChristChild, they went home by a different way. All of us do.
Here, in the depth of the year, when snow has fallen, snow on snow, it warms us to retell these morsels of a Holy Light which radiates into despair’s shadows. “In [Christ] was life, and the life was the light….The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.”
May your New Year overflow with Light! God Bless Us, Every One!
H B King
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