In this season of Epiphany we celebrate the coming of the light: John 1:5: “The light shines in the darkness and the darkness has not overcome it.”
We set the stage last week by focusing on God hidden in light inaccessible. Like Moses, we are blinded by the light of his holiness and almightiness. As is written in Isaiah:
“‘For my thoughts are not your thoughts,
“God works in mysterious ways his wonders to perform.”
You probably know this line? But maybe not where it is from. It is the first line of a hymn written by an eighteenth century Englishman, William Cowper, who struggled with mental illness much of his life. Even so, he wrote: “God works in mysterious ways his wonders to perform.” Ways beyond his understanding. Ways that none of us can understand.
The prophet Isaiah wrote: “Truly thou art a God who hidest thyself” (Isa. 45:15 KJV; see 45:1-15, especially verse 7). When life takes a tragic turn, where is God? In dark times – whatever they may be, this word from Isaiah strikes home.; Why does the Lord permit this tragedy, this illness, this disability, this horror?
Grace to you and peace from God our Father and our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Amen.
Have you ever been to naturalization ceremony for new citizens? Or seen one on TV?
In Canada citizenship ceremonies happen at NHL games. A red carpet is laid out on the ice. The new immigrants walk out to the middle of the arena. The official reads some words and pronounces the new immigrants to be Canadian citizens. The crowd stands, cheers, and hollers: “Welcome to Canada!” One immigrant said the relief, joy, and sense of belonging she felt that day are unforgettable.
A beginning:
Epiphany is the 6th of January in the Western calendar. Epiphany means “shining forth.” End of the 12 days of Christmas. In the early Church this was “their Christmas Day.” This tradition continued for a couple of hundred years. Early Christians celebrated the coming of the light in this world of meaningless and hopelessness.
“He lies in the manger. Look at this so that you may be certain that only Christ is to be preached in all the world. What else is the manger than the gathering of the Christian people in church to listen to the sermon? We are the animals that go with this manger. There Christ is placed before us, and with this food we are to feed our souls, that is, lead them to the sermon. He who goes to listen to a sermon, goes to this manger, but the sermons must deal with Christ. For not all mangers hold Christ and not all sermons teach the faith. Notice there was only one manger in Bethlehem in which this treasure lay, and it was, in addition, an unused, despised manger which at other times contained no fodder. Thus the preaching of the gospel is free of all other things; it has Christ and teaches only him.” (Luther’s Works 53:22-23).