e-vo for week of January 2

Dearest e-votees-

This coming Sunday is the day of and the beginning of the season of Epiphany. The twelve days of Christmas will have run their course and now we turn our attention to God being made known to the world. The word epiphany comes from the Greek (“epi” = over or upon + “phaino” = shine) which literally means “shine upon” and figuratively means “to reveal”. [thanks “The Complete Word Study Dictionary, New Testament”]

This Sunday begins a season that includes the visit of the magi, Jesus’ baptism, the miracle of water to wine at Cana, Jesus proclaiming the year of the Lord’s favor, Jesus’ self-revelations that infuriate the crowd and Jesus’ transfiguration. Each of these events reveal a different aspect of who this babe of Bethlehem has grown up to be.

May our eyes and our hearts be open as God seeks to reveal God’s self to us.

Peace,
Karl

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1 This is the reason that I Paul am a prisoner for Christ Jesus for the sake of you Gentiles— 2 for surely you have already heard of the commission of God's grace that was given me for you, 3 and how the mystery was made known to me by revelation, as I wrote above in a few words, 4 a reading of which will enable you to perceive my understanding of the mystery of Christ. 5 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: 6 that is, the Gentiles have become fellow heirs, members of the same body, and sharers in the promise in Christ Jesus through the gospel. 7 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. 8 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, 9 and to make everyone see what is the plan of the mystery hidden for ages in God who created all things; 10 so that through the church the wisdom of God in its rich variety might now be made known to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly places. 11 This was in accordance with the eternal purpose that he has carried out in Christ Jesus our Lord, 12 in whom we have access to God in boldness and confidence through faith in him.

Ephesians 3:1-12, NRSV

Three things:

God’s message comes by revelation. We don’t puzzle it out in our own understanding. We cannot by our own reason or strength muster understanding (see Small Catechism on Holy Spirit). It is the Holy Spirit that calls, enlightens, gathers and sanctifies us and all believers. Faith comes as a gift. The gift must be revealed—unwrapped, if you will—by God’s ways in God’s timing for God’s glory. Epiphany is a day and a season of lingering in that divine unwrapping.

God’s message is for those who are outside the fold as well. Jesus was constantly engaging the fringe-dwellers: the lepers, the tax collectors, the sick, the possessed, the sinful, the gluttons and the drunkards. Paul, in reaching out to the Gentiles, was also engaging those on the fringe of the faith in which he was trained. The revelation isn’t an insider confirmation so much as a light to shine truth to all who would see. We know not to light up a house from under a bucket. The call is for all believers to let their lights so shine so that all who see might glorify the Father in heaven (see Matthew 5:15-16 and the baptismal liturgy).

God will use the “least of all the saints” to be agents of grace and to do good work. God will use the simplest of things: bread, oil, wine, water, fish and even us to make God to be revealed to the world. Through these elements and other simple means partnered with God’s grace and power even the rulers and authorities in heavenly places will have God revealed to them. As the Holy Spirit stirs faith we have boldness and confidence.


God, continue to reveal yourself to us. Unwrap your glory in our lives. Use us to reach out to those on the fringe letting our light shine for your glory. Help us not fixate on our lack and on our simplicity but on your will and on your supremacy. Reveal yourself to, in and through us. Amen.