YOU ALL COME!

Full Definition of epiphany
plural epiph·a·nies
  1. 1capitalized :  January 6 observed as a church festival in commemoration of the coming of the Magi as the first manifestation of Christ to the Gentiles or in the Eastern Church in commemoration of the baptism of Christ
  2. 2:  an appearance or manifestation especially of a divine being
  3. a (1) :  a usually sudden manifestation or perception of the essential nature or meaning of something (2) :  an intuitive grasp of reality through something (as an event) usually simple and striking (3) :  an illuminating discovery, realization, or disclosureb :  a revealing scene or moment.

  5.                www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/epiphany






Ephesians  3:1-12
Matthew 2:1-12


 Isn't it interesting that God would reveal the birth of His Son to a group of court magicians and astrologers in what was probably Persia?  Of course, God used a astronomical event to attract their attention.  After all that  was what was what caught their attention, what was most meaningful for them.  They believed the gods revealed important events to humans through signs in the heavens.

How they happened to have the scrolls of Isaiah's prophesies among their archives can only be left to speculation.  But then, God does move in mysterious ways with wonders to perform.  This in itself may serve in its own way as an epiphany, but I think there is more to this beloved story than just a celestial birth announcement.

I think there's also a revelation about God's intentions and the way God's love acts and interacts with human beings.  It can be a reminder to what it means to be chosen.

The meaning a lot of us associate with the idea of being chosen has to do with our abilities, skills and accomplishments.  We are chosen on how successful we meet and exceed a set of requirements.  In other words, we "win" a place on a team, honors for our scholastic abilities, a job promotion.  Some people even believe that we have to "win" God's favor in order to be chosen by God to receive salvation.

But where there are winners, there are losers, and when we define "chosen" by our experiences in this world, it means that there are those who are excluded.

Not so when God says to us, "you are may chosen," for it is God's perfect will that all will be saved.  This gift is freely given -- we don't don't have to be perfect or do something else to earn it.

"The Lord isn’t slow to keep his promise, as some think of slowness, but he is patient toward you, not wanting anyone to perish but all to change their hearts and lives."   2 Peter 3:9 (CEB)

Like the blinding light of a supernova cutting through the darkness, the light of God's unconditional love continually shines upon all humankind, inviting us all to come and meet His Son.  Not just those who claim a genetic linkage to Abraham or affiliation with a particular faith tradition -- everyone, each one of us, in ways that are personal and meaningful to each one.  Even the court magicians and astrologers of the Persian Court.

The magi were changed by their encounter with the living Christ.  Warned in a dream to not to return to Herod has they had promised the King of Israel, they returned home a different way.  Returned a different way -- isn't that the definition of the transformation and repentance that is a result of the revelation of God in our lives?

Several years ago, the United Methodist Church presented a phrase that I think applies to our participation in the grace of God's invitation, "you all come."  It is "open minds, open hearts, open doors."  It is a call for us to rethink how we make welcome and make room in our church for ALL who are responding to God's invitation to come and meet Jesus, not just people who are like ourselves.  With each new generaration and changes in our communities and our culture, we are asked to love Christ and love others enough to risk allowing room for the Spirit of God to reach others in ways that are personal and meaningful to them.

As we make our own journeys into 2016, as individuals and as the Body of Christ, we are called to reach out to the world with "open minds, open hearts, open doors" as we follow the light of Christ into God's future for us.

What will the faithful response to this call look like?




Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

CHRISTIANS AND COFFEE BEANS

Image
1 Peter 1:17-23 John 17:14-19 Potatoes, eggs or coffee beans? Which are Christians called to be? We're going to find out as we explore what it means to be “in the world but not of the world” in today's message, “Christians and Coffee Beans.” Put three pots of water on to boil. When the water begins to boil, put some potatoes in one, eggs in another pot, and coffee beans in the third point. Boil for 20 minutes The potatoes went into the pot hard. After boiling in the hot water, they are now soft, easily broken up and mashed. The eggs, with their fragile shells and soft centers, are also changed. They are now hard-boiled. The coffee beans are different. While they look the same as they did when they were put into the water, they have transformed the water. The water has taken on the smell, taste and color of the coffee Jesus was not of this world, yet he came into the world to redeem the world by his death and resurrection an
Read more

OATHS -- GONE WITH THE WIND?

Image
Leviticus 19:11-12 Matthew 5:33-37 Even if we've never seen the movie, Gone with the Wind, we're probably familiar with Scarlett O'Hara's oath. Framed by the sunset, Scarlet raises her fist in defiance and says, “As God is my witness, I will never be hungry again!” In today's passage from the Gospel of Matthew, Jesus leads us into a new understanding of oaths and profanity. Did the character, Scarlett O’Hara in the movie, Gone with the Wind , take the Lord’s name in vain when she made her famous oath? “As God is my witness, as God is my witness, they’re not going to lick me. I’m going to live through this and when it’s all over, I’ll never be hungry again. No, nor any of my folk. If I have to lie, steal, cheat or kill. As God is my witness, I’ll never be hungry again. Leviticus 19:11-12 tells us not to take oaths, make promises that profane the Lord’s name, that is take the Lord’s name in vain. Scarlett’s oath is a profane
Read more

JUST BECAUSE I'M A LIBERAL ...

Image
  Brothers and Sisters, may I share something that's been on my mind for quite a while? Just because I'm a liberal doesn't mean I'm not a Christian, because I am.  Born again and spirit-filled, it is my true identity and shapes my life, my decisions and where I fall on the spectrum.  I am unafraid and unashamed to declare, "Jesus is Lord," and I pray my actions affirm my words. Just because I'm a liberal and a Christian, doesn't mean that I don't love and respect those who are different than I am, rather in religion or politics or because of country of origin or native language.  I do, because my faith informs how I see others -- created in the image of God, given divine worth by our Creator.  To judge a person for who and what they are and not accept them is to, in my book, to call God a liar. Just because I'm a Christian who happens to be a liberal, doesn't mean I don't love my country or care about the community where I live.  God
Read more