Arise and Shine: Epiphany’s Radiant Call

Focus Statement

Christ’s light dawns gradually in our world and lives;

we’re called to seek it and shine it.

Point of Relation

Think about the last time you received big news.

Maybe it was a birth, a job offer, or a major life change.

Now, imagine if some folks only found out and came to celebrate two years later.

That’s similar to what happened with Jesus and the Magi.

The Christmas card image of wise men at the manger?

Not quite accurate.

Jesus was likely a toddler by the time they arrived, living in a house with Mary and Joseph.

This gap between Jesus’ birth and the Magi’s visit

reminds us that revelation unfolds gradually.

In our lives, too, understanding often comes later than the event itself.

That promotion you got last year?

Its true impact might only be clear now.

The friend you made recently?

Their importance in your life may reveal itself months or years down the road.

Like the Magi,

we’re on a journey of discovery.

The light of Christ continues to reveal itself in our lives,

long after that first Christmas dawn.

So keep your eyes open –

your own epiphany might be just around the corner.

Things to Consider

In fact, your daily life is full of Epiphany moments.

At work, in your neighborhood, during your commute -

there are chances to discover and share Christ’s light.

A struggling colleague,

a lonely neighbor,

a stranger needing kindness -

these are opportunities to be a star in someone’s dark sky.

Each small act of compassion is a ray of light.

What Scripture Says

In the twilight of history,

a star pierces the veil of night.

Matthew paints a canvas of seekers,

wise men from distant lands,

their eyes fixed on this celestial harbinger.

Their journey, set against Rome’s dominion,

isn’t a sprint but a marathon,

mirroring our own long walk towards dawn.

Herod’s palace casts long shadows,

a reminder that darkness still clings even as light begins to break.

Yet the star persists,

leading these travelers beyond the marble halls of Herod

to a humble dwelling.

Here, in a simple house,

they find the child-king,

the embodiment of dawn’s promise.

Isaiah’s words, born of a people rebuilding their nation from exile,

echo across time:

‘“Arise, shine, for your light has come.”

It’s not just a moment but a movement,

a gradual illumination spreading across the world’s canvas.

Nations stir, drawn to this nascent glow

like moths to a flame.

Gold glints in the growing light,

frankincense’s fragrance mingles with the morning air,

myrrh foreshadows Christ’s sacrificial love.

These gifts,

symbolic waypoints on humanity’s journey

from twilight to daybreak,

remind us that dawn unfolds slowly,

deliberately.

In both passages, we witness the first streaks of light painting the sky of human history.

It’s not yet full day,

but neither is it the deep night of before.

We stand, like the Magi,

in that liminal space between,

called to both witness and participate in the unfolding dawn.

What This Means for You

Christ calls you to be both seeker and beacon of His light.

Your journey, like the Magi’s, isn’t always going to be easy

you’ll face your own “Herods” and dark nights.

But the star still guides you.

Your spiritual awakening, like dawn, is gradual.

Some days dim, others bright.

Each step brings you closer to Christ’s radiant return.

In a shadowed world, you’re a light-bearer.

Your love, kindness, and pursuit of justice push back darkness.

Even your smallest acts of faith make a difference.

This year, it’s time to arise and shine.

It’s time to seek and share Christ’s light

until His kingdom comes in full.

What This Means for Us

As a community of faith,

we’re called to be a city on a hill,

shining Christ’s light together.

Our collective journey mirrors the Magi’s –

seeking truth, following divine guidance, and offering our best to God.

Together, we can illuminate our community more brightly than we could alone.

Our shared worship, community service,

and fellowship create a beacon of hope in a world still touched by darkness.

This Epiphany season, let’s commit to rising and shining as one body.

We must deepen our worship and study,

engage in community outreach,

support each other’s spiritual journeys,

and invite others to join our light-bearing community.

Starting today,

let’s arise, shine,

and actively transform our corner of the world with the radiant love of Christ.

Written by Rev. Todd R. Lattig with the assistance of Perplexity AI.