Epiphany

After they had heard the king, the Magi went on their way, and the star they had seen when it rose went ahead of them until it stopped over the place where the child was. When they saw the star, they were overjoyed. On coming to the house, they saw the child with his mother Mary, and they bowed down and worshiped him. Then they opened their treasures and presented him with gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh. And having been warned in a dream not to go back to Herod, they returned to their country by another route. – Matthew 2:9-12

Epiphany is what we call the day of the Magi’s visitation to Jesus.  It commemorates the journey they made to honor the “King of kings”, and the gifts they brought.  The Magi had a difficult time finding Jesus.  They went to the palace, expecting that this new king would be there.  In life, it seems we often look for things in the wrong places.

In our common language, an “epiphany” is often a sudden realization of something that was right in front of you.  Just as the Magi went to the wrong place to look for Jesus, the new king, we often miss what is right in front of us.  We look for God in grandiose gestures and amazing sunsets.  Rightly so, because God is present in those things; but God is also present in the simple, the small, the un-remarkable events of daily life.

This New Year, may we have eyes to see.  May we have a new epiphany of God’s presence and God’s love, right before us and all around us.  Amen.

Lord, You call us to come and see, and then to go and tell. So often we are looking the other way—away from your image shining in the face of another, away from your people in need, away from the things we would rather not see. So often our words are not of grace, justice, love, and peace, but rather words of hurt, exclusion, and fear. Forgive us for praying for vision while holding our eyes closed. Forgive us for holding firmly to the logs in our own eyes even as you offer us lenses to see what you see. Forgive us for keeping silent, and for speaking our own desires rather than yours. Give us courage to witness your glory and testify to your good news. Give us grace to admit our shortcomings and still point to you. Give us strength to follow you, wherever you might lead.  Amen.