Happy Epiphany!
The LIGHT has come!!
Today is the traditional liturgical/Christian Year celebration of the coming of the Magi. (There is another one on February 2nd and that’s when we’ll dwell on why that day makes sense in linear time.) But today we will consider the main point: The light has come to the Gentiles.
Essentially it’s like this, if you’re not a Jew, you’re a Gentile. (There are those who are mixed but I’m not chasing that rabbit, I’m staying on this trail.) God made it quite clear throughout the Bible that he cares about non-Jews and Jews alike. Remember Melchizedek? Not a Jew. When Solomon dedicates the Temple the prayer including all peoples. The Temple had a court for the Gentiles. (See what Jesus said in Mark 11:17) If you think back to your Gospels you’ll recall Jesus was amazed at the faith of some Gentiles. A centurion comes to mind (Matt. 8:5-14).
Anyway, the Magi traveled to bring gifts (essential to God’s plan) and worship in newborn Jesus. We’ll get more into that in due course.
These scholar-astronomer-astrologer-religious followed the clues (they had studied in the Hebrew prophets) and the phenomenon they observed in the sky. They sought the king.
As the light, what clues about Jesus are we leaving for people? What phenomenal stories about him are we telling that they may seek the king?
Jesus came, the Incarnation happened, because God loves all people. Remember again the angels:
“Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased!” (Luke 2:14 ESV)
The light has come for us.
REJOICE!!!
Be the light! One of Jesus instructions to us was to be the light! We’ve received, let us give!
Oh, and Merry Christmas to those who celebrate Armenian Orthodox Christmas!
Oh, and Merry Christmas Eve to all our friends who follow the Orthodox calendar (Julian calendar)!
I think I’ll leave the tree up a couple of more days after all!
kingdom travelin' 