Somewhere there is a star all mixed up in it because we hang the blue stained glass star over the Baptismal font. The Three Wise Men get all mixed up in here as well, but kind of get lost in the Christmas shuffle. So what is the deal?

The season of Epiphany begins right after Christmas, but we very rarely celebrate it in the worship service. This is because it always conflicts with the celebration of the Baptism of Jesus, so the Wise Men lose. Epiphany begins with the Wise Men because they had an epiphany. An epiphany is a comprehension or perception of reality by means of a sudden intuitive realization. It is a moment when you suddenly understand. In the cartoons it is the moment when the light bulb clicks one! It is an epiphany! When the Wise Men were following the star they were not just seeking a baby, they were trying to understand God's plan. When they finally came to Bethlehem and stood before the manger the light came on. The Epiphany Star, the Star of Bethlehem is a symbol of the light that has come into the world. And that light from God is Jesus. John in his Gospel tells us, "What has come into being in him was life, and the life was the light of all people. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not overcome it."
(John 1:3-5)

Epiphany celebrates the light of God shining in our dark world. It also is a celebration of God's purpose. It is not what you know that counts in God's economy, it is what you do with what you know. Jesus demonstrated this truth with his life. It was the whole reason for his birth. It was not enough for him to merely tell people that God loved them. In his ministry he demonstrated that love. Saint Paul lifts up this truth in Galatians 5:6 when he bluntly states "the only thing that counts is faith working through love."

Our culture likes to focus on love. This cultural attitude is expressed in the words of John Lennon's song "All you Need is Love." Christian's use John's statement in his epistle to support this same truth. He tells us "God is love." (1: John 4:8) This is true, but the reverse statement is not. God is love, but love is not God. The apostle John is trying to tell us that to even know what love is we need to begin our search with God. And the light comes on, It is Epiphany once again. God's love in Jesus Christ has come into the world so that everyone might see and understand. It is not just about love, it is about understanding that love in the context of the power of God. It is faith active in God's love. The power of this epiphany of love is revealed in John 1:12. "To all who received him. who believed in his name, he gave power to become children of God." The Light and the power are present in the epiphany of Jesus Christ. The Wise Men saw this truth and worshiped him.

Epiphany gives way to Lent. The brightness of the star gives way to more somber tones in our worship services because lent is a reflection of the difficulties that Jesus and everyone who had ever lived experience in their lives. But the light has shined in the darkness, and the darkness had not, nor will never over come it. This is the truth revealed by our loving God., Rejoice in this epiphany as we move into Lent.

Pastor Jim Bliss

Contact Pastor Jim:
Email: jbliss@resluthdublin.org
Phone: (925) 828-1580.

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