Emmanuel Lutheran Church

January 2012

A blessed New Year to you. As we enter this new year, the church enters into the season of Epiphany. The word “epiphany” is Greek for “manifestation” or “appearance.” The season begins on January 6 with The Epiphany of our Lord and ends with The Transfiguration of our Lord. According to the Worship Wordbook, The Epiphany season serves the church year by bridging Christ’s incarnation and his passion. It celebrates the revelations of Jesus as the Christ, the Savior of the world, particularly in such events as the miracles.

Epiphany begins with recalling the visit of the Magi, those foreigners from the
East whose visit to Jesus we see as Christ being made known to the world. The “wise men” as we are most familiar in calling them, were not Jewish, so their coming to pay homage to Jesus is important because, through them we understand that God made Jesus known, not only to the Jews, but to the world.

Celebrating and living in the season of Epiphany helps to remind us that, while Christ died for me (and that is of course very important), he also died for those outside the Christian faith, that all, even the gentiles like the Magi, may come to worship him and through him know the Father.

Christ made known to us is a call for us to share that revelation to others; to be a “star” that guides those unfamiliar with Jesus to him. While we may think that the sermon on any given Sunday is only for those gathered, it is not. It is for you to share with those who need to know the love that Christ has for them, too.

It was the light of the star that drew the Magi to Jesus. Epiphany is known as a season of light – the light of Christ shining into the darkness of this world. At baptism, the newly baptized is given a candle and the words “let your light so shine before others that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven” are spoken by the pastor.

Living in the season of Epiphany, let your light shine, the light of Christ within you. In worship, as you hear the stories of Jesus giving new life to Jew and Gentile alike, give new life to a friend, fellow student, co-worker or stranger whom God puts in your path for you to pave the way so that Christ may be revealed them.

This little light of mine, I’m going to let it shine, let it shine, let it shine.
Hide it under a bushel – No! I’m going to let it shine!

Even as Christ is being revealed to the world in new and marvelous ways, may He manifest himself to you anew, that your faith may be refreshed and renewed in the Epiphany of our Lord.

Pastor Alan