A Bright Epiphany for Us...and the World

Epiphany is a season of the Church Year that can be seen either as following or as extending Christmas. It commemorates the coming of magi - enigmatic, Gentile seekers - to the infant Jesus and his family - offering those famous gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh. How on earth did these astrologers from the distant east find a particular Jewish peasant family in an obscure village of Judea? How did they know that this swaddled baby was the long-awaited King? A Light shined for them. They followed that Light to find Jesus. And there they worshiped. This story is significant to the Church because we recognize that we too were seekers far away from God. And yet a Light has come into the world. We have perceived that Light and it has led us to God in Christ Jesus. Who more unexpected a worshiper than me?

Epiphany is a big day around my living room this year because we will be celebrating together for the first time on a Sunday morning. Our fellowship is small, mostly teen, and (like the magi when they got to Jerusalem) seeking direction. But in the process of their coming and worshiping, each of our little family have brought wonderful gifts for the Lord's use. We are Light beholders glad to have been brought together to this place (the metaphorical "place", not necessarily the living room) "to behold the beauty of the Lord".

But Epiphany will not be a time for us simply to congratulate ourselves for having made it to this point! We are concerned for the many, many who have "sat in darkness" in need of the Light that has shone in Jesus. We beholders of the Light cannot hide our joy away from those who, for whatever reason, persist in gloom. We must open the shutters, raise the blinds so that all may see that Light has come.

This does not necessarily, though, call for tracts to be handed out or door-to-door witnessing to occur. It may not (though this would be my first temptation) be time to invite all of our heathen friends to the living room to "get 'em saved". It is time to live conscientiously in the Light so that we might reflect the Light. I was often taught to convince people of the truth claims of Christianity so that they will believe and then come to church. I believe more now in living "Lightly". Folks around me will tend to see my witness of Christ's Light and find, in seeing Him, that they do believe after all. We pastors won't have to teach people how to "get saved" or even to worship...if they have an Epiphany.