The Feast of the Epiphany: The Light of the World

We’re all afraid of the dark. We may feel fine when the lights go out, but when we are faced with the darkness of humanity’s worst, or the darkness of the brokenness within our own hearts, we all cringe in fear. And that can be a huge problem because our fear is the least effective resource for overcoming these darknesses. We know that darkness without light can be destructive and unsafe. But without shadows, light becomes oppressive and harmful. Our healthiest and most creative lives are found when we live with light and darkness in balance.

The Baptism of Christ: The Way, the Truth, and the Life
There is no shortage of ways we can be lost and we’re all a little lost. This is not wrong or bad or a sign that we’re on the wrong track. It’s just life. It’s an inherent and necessary part of navigating a complex world and seeking a life that is full, authentic, and meaningful. And, in the midst of our lostness, we all look for a way forward. We look for signs that can help us. We look for people who can be an example to follow. And we look for ourselves—we seek to reconnect with our authentic self and inner wisdom. We are lost but we know that we need to find a way to follow, a truth to guide us, and a life that is authentic, meaningful, and fulfilling.

Epiphany 2B: The True Vine
We need to belong, to be united in strong relationships with family, friends, and neighbours, and to feel that we are truly seen and valued. We need to know that our lives have made a mark, however small, on the universe and that we have contributed in some way to the positive evolution of the world. We may not always know how to fill these needs for ourselves and others, but that doesn’t stop us trying. But sometimes, in quiet moments when we find a deep connection with another and we touch something meaningful, we realise the power in ordinary moments of connection. And we learn that these simple experiences of union contribute, even if only a little, to the wholeness, interdependence, and positive evolution of our world.

Epiphany 3B: The Gate
I guess it’s not surprising that religion has become about who is in and who is out. We live in a world where there are gatekeepers for everything. It’s a sad thing that our world, and particularly the world of faith, is a world of gates with no shortage of gatekeepers to show us our place. And it is shocking that Jesus has been placed at the top of the pile as the gatekeeper in chief, guarding eternity with a rigid determination to keep ‘sinners’ out. In stark contrast with the picture of Jesus as a gatekeeper, Jesus cals himself an open gate inviting everyone to enter into the protection of a loving community and to go out from this safe place to find and share life and nourishment wherever and whenever they can.

Epiphany 4B: The Good Shepherd
It is a profound gift to have someone who can come alongside us, protect us, nourish us, and lead us to a place of peace and calm even when we don’t deserve it. These ‘shepherds’ who naturally care for those around them, even at great personal cost, remind us of what the world could be if only we could overcome our fear and learn to just be kind to one another. As good shepherd, Jesus is not partisan and focussed only on those in his ‘in’ group. Rather he is welcoming, loving, caring, and concerned for justice, peace, and compassion for all. Unlike so many toxic leaders, Jesus did not use division and factionalism to further a personal cause. Rather, he proclaimed his longing for a single unified flock, a shared humanity, and the common good. And as ‘sheep’ who follow this ‘shepherd’ we get to enjoy the sense of welcome, inclusion, and care that Jesus offers.

Epiphany 5B: The Bread of Life
What nourishes your soul? What do you do to feel more alive? There are so many ways we can all answer these questions, but one thing at least is common to us all. We find life in our relationships. We need something solid and dependable that can feed us deeply and consistently. And that can only be found when we learn to connect deeply with ourselves, others, God, and the world in the mundanity of our daily living. Jesus is the bread of life because it is in him that we are brought into this community of care and find belonging, meaning, and aliveness. We are nourished by Jesus not because he produces food through supernatural means, but because he shows us the way to abundant life by connecting with one another and sharing what we have.

The Transfiguration: The Resurrection and the Life

We all know what it is to grieve and to experience the little deaths of loss, failure, and regret and we all know the miraculous gift of finding life on the other side of these little deaths. Our world is filled with reminders of resurrection, but when we find it within ourselves, everything changes. Jesus claims to be the resurrection and the life not just because of his own resurrection and not just because of how he directly raised others from death. Jesus is the resurrection and the life because he reveals the truth that exists in our universe and in each of us—that death is the doorway to life and that the same Life that flowed through Jesus flows through us.