e-vo for week of January 2

Dearest e-votees-

Happy New Year!!!

This year the day of Epiphany (Jan 6, the day immediately following the 12 days of Christmas) falls on a Sunday. Epiphany—the church season—will run through February 3—the Transfiguration of our Lord.

The word Epiphany comes from the Greek word eh-pee-fie-noh which means to show or appear. It doesn’t show up much in scripture. It appears 4 times in the New Testament—Acts 27:20, Luke 1:79, Titus 2:11 and Titus 3:4. It shows up 14 times in the Old Testament (in the Greek translation called the Septuagint—often abbreviated LXX).

Epiphany is the season of the church year when we focus on the revealing of God in the person of Jesus Christ. May God be revealed in these words we share today.

Peace,

Karl

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This is the reason that I Paul am a prisoner for Christ Jesus for the sake of you Gentiles—for surely you have already heard of the commission of God’s grace that was given me for you, and how the mystery was made known to me by revelation, as I wrote above in a few words, a reading of which will enable you to perceive my understanding of the mystery of Christ. In former generations this mystery was not made known to humankind, as it has now been revealed to his holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit: that is, the Gentiles have become fellow heirs, members of the same body, and sharers in the promise in Christ Jesus through the gospel.

Of this gospel I have become a servant according to the gift of God’s grace that was given me by the working of his power. Although I am the very least of all the saints, this grace was given to me to bring to the Gentiles the news of the boundless riches of Christ, and to make everyone see what is the plan of the mystery hidden for ages in God who created all might now be made known to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly places. This was in accordance with the eternal purpose that he has carried out in Christ Jesus our Lord, in whom we have access to God in boldness and confidence through faith in him.

Ephesians 3:1-12, NRSV

Paul is writing to our spiritual ancestors. To those of us who are not Jewish—those of us who are Gentiles—Paul was given grace to convey to us the good news of the boundless riches of Christ. Paul is revealing to us God’s plan. Paul is bringing an epiphany into our lives.

God’s work is about crossing boundaries to bring in those who need salvation. Jesus spanned the boundary of divine and human. His ministry straddled the boundary of Jew and Gentile. Paul was Jewish yet sent to the Gentiles. God reaches to those on the fringes. Maybe we find ourselves on the fringes some days. Maybe we know others who dwell in the shadows.

The light that is lit brightly in the center of the room is shining on all the darkened areas on the fringes. God’s light come into the world—Jesus—is reaching out to all the dark and fringy places. The shadows are being dispersed.

We get to be folded into that work of bringing faith and hope and light into a sometimes very dark world. We say it this way in baptism (quoting Jesus):

Let your light so shine before others that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven. (see Matthew 5:16)

It might seem intimidating to be the ones charged with bringing God’s light into the world. The truth is that we don’t generate the light, we reflect it. We do well to drink in the words of the benediction:

The Lord bless you and keep you; the Lord make his face to shine upon you and be gracious to you; the Lord lift up his countenance upon you, and give you peace.

Numbers 6:24-26, NRSV

You get one guess as to what the word for “to shine upon” you is in the Greek in the Septuagint. (hint: think January 6)

We are much more akin to the moon than the sun. We turn ourselves towards the Son and light reflects off us to help guide those wandering in the night.

God, shine your truth into our lives. Chase out the shadows. Let all of our works and words and even our most private thoughts bring glory to you. Amen.