Happy New Year. An unchallenged, politically correct proclamation after weeks of pussyfooting around Merry Christmas or Happy Holidays. Refreshing, but.....
While I love embracing a new year as much as anyone, my heart belongs to Epiphany. What makes the new year good for me is the knowledge that the wise men are on their way! For me, it is better than Santa Claus - though I have a fondness for Santa as well.
Epiphany. I even like the word. It sounds as important as it is in the Christian calendar and in the implicit meaning to a Christian.
Miriam Webster reports the definition as "the manifestation of Christ to the Gentiles as represented by the Magi"
Epiphany is when Christ is revealed as the Christ Child to the Wise Men. Revelation. Ahhh, that moment when you K N O W.
I wear many hats. I am a writer, a nurse, a mother/grandmother/motherinlaw/daughter, but I am also a lay minister and so sometimes I have the privilege of preaching.
Last week I preached on not putting Christmas away until it is time. Not the tree of course - it doesn't really matter when you take the tree down unless you need it to help you - but in the Christmas story as of last week we were only up to the shepherds and their flocks in the fields. The angel appeared and proclaimed not Merry Christmas or Happy New Year, but Fear Not. I bring you good tidings of GREAT JOY!.
We are the shepherds! and so we get to hear the good news that the baby is finally born!
And so I challenged the congregation to travel with the shepherds and see for themselves the baby in the manger and revel in it, not put it away for the year.
And now - now the Magi are following the star. How great is that. What faith! What wonder!
So, while I am looking forward to a new year with everyone else, I am still holding my breath for the great revelation of the MEANING of Christmas. That the baby has come with purpose and that as my saviour he brings purpose and meaning to my life as well. It is my mission in the year ahead to serve Him by serving others. That is how I plan to put the happy in the new year ahead.
He calls us to be useful and purposeful where we are with the resources we have available to us, He commands us to promote Peace on Earth, Good will toward Men - all men- not just the Jews but the Gentiles, and the Muslims, and the hungry and the poor and widows and children.
Epiphany comes to remind us to Go Tell it on the Mountain, not with our words alone, but with our deeds.
I love Epiphany. My tree is still up to help me remember that Christmas has only just begun.
Merry Christmas to you all year long and Happy New Year - may it bring the epiphany of purpose in your life.
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