“In Him and through faith in Him we may approach God with freedom and confidence.” (Ephesians 3:12)The Epiphany (manifestation) of Jesus Christ to the (non-Jewish) world, celebrated in liturgical observances on this day, January 6, serves as a reminder to the Church, of the great privilege that is ours, to not only approach God’s throne of grace, but to do so with boldness.
Based on the day’s readings (Isaiah 60:1-6; Psalm 72:1-7,10-14; Ephesians 3:1-12 and Matthew 2:1-12), God’s plan of salvation: of revealing the light of His presence to the created world, was put into effect long before the incarnation. Steadily therefore, and with divine precision and sensitivity, the illuminating brightness of His love was made known through the ages, culminating in that spectacular revelation to the Magi, whose ‘wisdom’ lay in the fact that distance, deception and disquiet notwithstanding, they would carry that which had been birthed in them spiritually, until it was brought to light by God, who was midwife.
The persistence of the Magi, their openness of heart to receive and embrace God’s revelation of Himself in the face of myriad obstacles, must serve to inspire our own boldness today, so that by the empowering grace of His Holy Spirit, we may approach our vocation as light bearers, with the confidence that because that which we bear emanates from the eternal flame of God’s Love, we can so shine that the world may indeed see and worship…Him.
May the light and beauty of Jesus be seen in you and me, in this season of Epiphany and beyond.
Contributed by: Canon ‘Grace’ Jervis