The Epiphany of the Lord

Jan 13 2025

Scripture Study for

The reading from Isaiah opens with a twofold summons addressed to the city of Jerusalem: Arise! Shine! Although it had been downtrodden and enshrouded in darkness, it is now called out of this desperate state. The illumination into which it emerges is not merely the light of a new day, a new era of peace and prosperity. It is the very light of God. Its dispersed inhabitants return; its destroyed reputation is restored; and its despoiled prosperity is reconstituted. This is not a promise to be fulfilled in the future; Jerusalem’s salvation is an accomplished fact. It is happening before its very eyes.

The primary message to the Ephesians, that in Christ the Gentiles are co-heirs, co-members, and co-partners with the Jews, had been revealed to Paul by God. Since what qualifies one as an heir is life in the Spirit of Christ and not natural generation into a particular national group, there is no obstacle in the path of Gentile incorporation. The body to which all belong is the body of Christ, not the bloodline of Abraham. The promise at the heart of gospel preaching is the promise of universal salvation through Christ.

As we near the end of the Christmas season we read another popular Christmas story: the Three Kings or Three Wise Men. Actually, they were astrologers, men who studied the heavenly bodies and sought to discover the meaning of human life on earth. These anonymous men come out of obscurity and they return to obscurity. All we know about them is that they were not Israelite, and this is the whole point of the story. It illustrates that people of good will, regardless of their ethnic or religious background, are responsive to the revelation of God. The openness of these astrologers brought them to the child, and they did not go away disappointed. This child draws Jew and Gentile alike.

Jan 08 2025

Underdogs Become Stars

In the movie Rudy, Rudy isn’t smart enough to get into Notre Dame. He’s too small to play football. Could he make a touchdown for the Fighting Irish in the final game of his senior year? There’s no way. Not a chance. In the story Hidden Figures, Katherine Johnson is a mathematical genius. She works at NASA as a “calculator.” Yet she is a black woman in the early 1960s. Could she do the mathematical calculations for John Glenn’s return from orbit? There’s no way. Not a chance.

We love these underdog stories, don’t we? The one full of grit and determination, the one who was not supposed to be there—a light shines, someone cracks open a door. The hero(ine) pushes through and comes to victory. The elation! The joy! The success!

Today’s readings give us other underdog stories. St. Paul didn’t walk with Jesus. He persecuted Christians. There’s no way. Not a chance. The magi—astrologers from the east, they were not of the Chosen People. How could they ever see the Messiah? There’s no way. Not a chance.

Yet God opens a crack in the door. Light from heaven strikes Paul to the ground. The risen Lord draws him in. In turn, Paul opens the door for those other underdogs, the Gentiles.

A star in the heavens directs the magi to the King of the Jews, and by that light they are overjoyed to see that baby. The elation! The thrill! The success! Unlikely heroes, we still sing their song, “We Three Kings.”

You and I, we are unlikely heroes, too. People of faith, in love with the Lord? No way. Not a chance. Yet a light has shone into our darkness, too—a glimmer, a taste of the Holy Spirit, and a touch of glory. Wow. Sing praise!

Consider/Discuss

What is your favorite underdog story? With whom do you identify most? Who is it that shines the light, opens the door for the hero(ine)? At the conclusion, what causes you to feel elation and joy at their success?
Sometimes we take our faith for granted. Yet glimpses of light have enlightened our darkness. God is faithful. The heavens have opened and we are allowed to enter. How has that door opened for us?

Living and Praying with the Word

Lord Jesus, you came into this world as an underdog, born in a small backwater of a vast empire. But when the magi saw you, they knew that you truly reigned over all. Thank you for opening the door for us. We are not worthy of you, but you have let us in, too. Show us the elation—the joy—the unexpected successes that you want for us in our own lives.

Jan 08 2025

Scripture Study for

The beginning of the book of Isaiah presents a vision in which, one day, Zion will attract “all nations” seeking to learn from the God of Israel (Isaiah 2:1–4). Here too, toward the end of the book, we hear a similar proclamation in an oracle from the post-exilic period, during which the returnees from exile are slowly rebuilding Jerusalem and a new temple. The hopeful vision announces that because of God’s presence (“the glory of the Lord”), the city is filled with light shining forth over the whole earth, presently darkened (by ignorance or violence?). Once again, we hear that nations will be attracted to Jerusalem because of the God who dwells within, bringing with them tribute to God, whose sovereignty they acknowledge, whose praises they proclaim.

The reading from Ephesians explores the extension of God’s relationship with Israel to include, in Christ, Gentiles also. Here the emphasis is on God’s “outreach” to the nations. Paul has been entrusted with the message of God’s grace. The content of that grace is precisely that Gentiles are now called to join with Jews as heirs of God’s ancient promises. Like the original promises to the Jews, this inheritance has not been earned, but is founded solely on the graciousness of God, whose benevolence is now extending beyond ethnic Israel to include all those who become members of the body of Christ.

The magi, wise men and astrologers who were part of the priestly class in Persia, would have shared the cultural belief that the birth of kings was “announced” through celestial phenomena, such as the “rising of a star.” Thus, they arrive, having ascertained the birth of a Jewish king. Herod, a Jewish client king of the Romans, is understandably threatened. Having determined exactly where such a newborn king might be found, he slyly sends the magi to search him out for him. The gifts of the magi are costly and appropriate for a king; they do not seem particularly dismayed to find the newborn king sleeping in a manger.

Dec 13 2024

Rise and Shine!

Early on in Tennessee William’s play The Glass Menagerie, the always pushing and prodding mother, Amanda, comes into the living room and awakens her sleeping son, Tom, by shouting at his stretched-out figure on the pull-out couch, “Rise and shine! Rise and shine!” An irritated Tom yells back, “I’ll rise, Mother, but I won’t shine.”

By the end of the Christmas season, many of us may have similar feelings. Winter doldrums, whether or not accompanied by freezing weather and power-threatening snowstorms, often motivate little more than a slow motion arising with little emanating radiance.

But the light of this crowning feast of the Christmas season does not depend on us. Light comes to us, as it did to the magi and to the shepherds in the fields, and as it did to Bethlehem, to Nazareth, and eventually to Jerusalem, Samaria, and from there out to the ends of the earth. The Light comes to us as gift, as grace. This Light enables Jews and Gentiles, men and women of North America, South America, Europe, Africa, Asia, Oceania, and the Middle East to look at each other and recognize brothers and sisters rather than strangers, aliens, even enemies.

The feast of the Epiphany expresses God’s will that all creation come to know the God revealed in Jesus Christ who continues to shine forth in light and love. The promise of the feast is that all of us are capable of absorbing and reflecting this light so that the whole earth may be delivered from its darkness.

Consider/Discuss

Do you see yourself as a reflector of God’s light, someone with a capacity to provide an epiphany for others?
What helps or hinders you from recognizing all men and women as your brothers and sisters, beloved of God?

Responding to the Word

Lord Jesus, you continue to come into the world as light that pushes back the darkness. Continue to enlighten our minds and hearts, opening them to receive you in whatever way you come to us. Help us to find you in our daily lives by removing whatever prevents our seeing your light.

Dec 13 2024

Scripture Study for

The city of Jerusalem is told to “Arise!” “Shine!” The illumination into which it emerges is the very light of God; it is the glory of the Lord. Jerusalem is not only delivered from its misfortune by God, it is re-established as a thriving city. Its dispersed inhabitants return, its destroyed reputation is restored, and its despoiled prosperity is reconstituted. This is not a promise to be fulfilled in the future; Jerusalem’s salvation is an accomplished fact. It is happening before its very eyes. The wealth from land and sea pours into the city. Such good fortune is evidence of God’s favor.

Paul tells the Ephesians that in Christ the Gentiles are co-heirs, co-members and co-partners with the Jews. Since what qualifies one as an heir is life in the Spirit of Christ and not natural generation into a particular national group, there is no obstacle in the path of Gentile incorporation. The body to which all belong is the body of Christ, not the bloodline of Abraham. The promise in Paul’s preaching is the promise of universal salvation through Christ, not that of descendants and prosperity in a particular land. This is a radical insight for a church with Jewish roots and traditions.

The three kings or wise men were probably astrologers who studied the heavenly bodies. Since they believed that astral marvels frequently accompanied the birth of great kings, it is understandable that they would go straight to the Judean king. Lest we think the story is a fanciful fabrication, the Gospel writer situates the events squarely in time and place: the reign of Herod, Bethlehem and Jerusalem.

The astrologers read the astral signs, they recognized the true identity of the child, and they understood a message in a dream that told them to return home another way. Their openness brought them to the child, and they did not go away disappointed. This child draws Jew and Gentile alike.