Epiphany of the Lord
Dear Friends,
Today, the prophet Isaiah tells us the following:
“Rise up in splendor, Jerusalem! Your light has come, the glory of the Lord shines upon you. See, darkness covers the earth, and thick clouds cover the peoples; but upon you the LORD shines, and over you appears his glory.”
But how do we “rise up in splendor” when there is so much amiss in the world that we live in? So much darkness that covers the earth? Even so much darkness in our own hearts? I believe that the answer is found at the beginning of creation, when God says “Let there be light”
(Genesis 1:3). This is God’s first command at the beginning of our Universe. God shaped all of the cosmos, indeed all of His creation, upon this command.
A few weeks ago, I was hiking a difficult mountain with my best friends. The trail was totally covered with ice and snow. The sky was completely cloudy and the air was freezing. After finally getting to the top, there were 100 mile per hour winds, and we were completely exposed to the elements. Suddenly, the sun came bursting through a crack in the clouds, and the wind died down. For just a minute we stood there and let the light shine on our faces as we thanked God and admired miles and miles in all directions of His beautiful creation. I couldn’t help but think of God’s first command to “let there be light.”
We rejoiced in the light that He gave us, and let His light enter into our hearts. Amidst the doom and gloom, wind and snow, even once the sun retreated behind the clouds, the light was there to stay in our hearts.
I thought back on this moment while reading of the joy of the wise men in today’s Gospel. “They were overjoyed at seeing the star, and on entering the house they saw the child with Mary His mother.”
Today with the wise men, rejoice at the sight of the star of the Lord- the child Jesus, who “is the light of all mankind” (John 1:4). Let us all welcome this light into our hearts. Letting Him into our hearts, after all, is the most fitting way to “pay him homage” and “open our
treasures to him, ”as the wise men did long ago on this most special feast. The darkness has not, and will not, overcome the light of the newborn King. May His light enter all of our hearts today!
Danny Kelly
Penn FOCUS Missionary