Epiphany is always described as an unanticipated understanding; it is a light of comprehension that shines in the dark of unknowing. It is an astonishing and unpredicted perception and discerning. An epiphany is a sudden and unexpected consciousness, awareness and insight. It is a leap of understanding, of knowledge, and of faith and it is part of our true conversion in Christ!
Isaiah today tells us to raise our eyes to look about, then you shall be radiant at what you see, “your heart shall throb and overflow…” You will ‘get’ it! When you ‘get’ something, when that grace of understanding is given, it feels like that, doesn’t it? Our hearts throb and overflow because we recognize that a personal epiphany is a gift, an actual grace from God. In those moments of conversion and transformation, when we all experience our personal epiphanies, our own personal stars come to rest over us. A light shines upon us and in us!
As we near the end of our Christmas Season and prepare to start a new liturgical season (Monday we finish with The Baptism of the Lord), I would first like to share a text of a choral piece our Adult Choir sang in the past. It is called: The Work of Christmas by Dan Forest, text by Howard Thurman (1899-1981). This text gives us great food for thought as we are starting to end this season and begin the New Year.
The Work of Christmas
When the song of the angels is stilled, when the star in the sky is gone,
When the kings and princes are home, when the shepherds are back with their flock,
The work of Christmas begins:
To find the lost, To heal the broken,
To feed the hungry, To release the pris’ner,
To rebuild the nations: To bring peace among brothers,
To make music, music, make music from the heart.
When the song of the angels is stilled, when the star in the sky is gone,
When the kings and princes are home, when the shepherds are back with their flock,
The work of Christmas begins.
We know all the things that God came to earth to be for us—to exemplify and witness for us: hope, strength, peace, wisdom and joy; a love that renews and light for our eyes to see (and understand). In the Christmas season in our readings we name God for all the things that God is: Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, God of Mercy, Justice and Love, Healer Spirit and Light of the World. If Christ is truly all these things for you, celebrating Epiphany: the manifestation and presence of God on earth and in our hearts makes so much sense, and is all the sweeter. May God bless you with the grace of epiphany. But remember: He came, was born, and did what He did for us. So now that Christmas is ending, the work of Christmas begins for God’s people.
Keep Singing!
Elizabeth Dyc
Isaiah today tells us to raise our eyes to look about, then you shall be radiant at what you see, “your heart shall throb and overflow…” You will ‘get’ it! When you ‘get’ something, when that grace of understanding is given, it feels like that, doesn’t it? Our hearts throb and overflow because we recognize that a personal epiphany is a gift, an actual grace from God. In those moments of conversion and transformation, when we all experience our personal epiphanies, our own personal stars come to rest over us. A light shines upon us and in us!
As we near the end of our Christmas Season and prepare to start a new liturgical season (Monday we finish with The Baptism of the Lord), I would first like to share a text of a choral piece our Adult Choir sang in the past. It is called: The Work of Christmas by Dan Forest, text by Howard Thurman (1899-1981). This text gives us great food for thought as we are starting to end this season and begin the New Year.
The Work of Christmas
When the song of the angels is stilled, when the star in the sky is gone,
When the kings and princes are home, when the shepherds are back with their flock,
The work of Christmas begins:
To find the lost, To heal the broken,
To feed the hungry, To release the pris’ner,
To rebuild the nations: To bring peace among brothers,
To make music, music, make music from the heart.
When the song of the angels is stilled, when the star in the sky is gone,
When the kings and princes are home, when the shepherds are back with their flock,
The work of Christmas begins.
We know all the things that God came to earth to be for us—to exemplify and witness for us: hope, strength, peace, wisdom and joy; a love that renews and light for our eyes to see (and understand). In the Christmas season in our readings we name God for all the things that God is: Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, God of Mercy, Justice and Love, Healer Spirit and Light of the World. If Christ is truly all these things for you, celebrating Epiphany: the manifestation and presence of God on earth and in our hearts makes so much sense, and is all the sweeter. May God bless you with the grace of epiphany. But remember: He came, was born, and did what He did for us. So now that Christmas is ending, the work of Christmas begins for God’s people.
Keep Singing!
Elizabeth Dyc
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