Arise, shine; for your light has come, and the glory of God has risen upon you.
For darkness shall cover the earth, and thick darkness the peoples;
but God will arise upon you, and God’s glory will appear over you.
Isaiah 60:1-2
Dear friends,
Welcome to the season of Epiphany! The visit of the Magi invites us into this time, as we remember their search for an infant king by the light of a star. Behind that story from Matthew’s Gospel lies the vision of Isaiah, in which the Prophet speaks hope to a people groping in the darkness, recovering from exile, seeking a way forward, and dreaming about their future.
Epiphany is marked by images of light in the darkness and the brilliance of a guiding star. Its message promises that God’s love will show us greater clarity, reveal the fullness of our reality, and bring us hope. God’s promises are real, if we lift up our eyes and look for the light.
So whatever journey through the darkness you are on, ponder these things… imagine that you are traveling along with the magi. How did they prepare for their journey? Did they stop for directions? What were their conversations after paying respects to King Herod? What did they see in the faces of Mary and Joseph as they knelt before the Christ child? How did they decide on their direction home?
Isaiah calls us to “Lift up your eyes and look around!” Epiphany encourages us to keep our eyes open for the light of God’s truth and hope, life and love to guide us through the darkness as we follow where it leads.
Blessings for Epiphany, Karen Nell