Happy Epiphany!
Today's Gospel revolves around a star casting such a great light it attracted the magi from a distant land.
It's the culmination of the last 12 days of Scripture about Christ as the light of the world:
On Christmas Eve: "The glory of the Lord shone around them."
The Second Sunday of Christmas: "This life was the light of the human race."
And today, the appearance of the star.
Thanks to my first winter in Germany, I finally get it.
It is dark here, y'all. People warned me. They told me to take my Vitamin D. But nothing really prepares you for sunset at about 4:30 p.m. and sunrise at 8:45 a.m. The picture here is our walk to Kindergarten a little after 8. Even at "high" noon, the sun is just over the houses across the street.
Darkness oppresses and isolates. I don't want to get out of bed, and I would rather just hole up in the house. Darkness heightens fear and encourages suspicion. It limits us.
But in the light -- in Christ -- we can see the beauty of the world. We trust our senses and our judgement of the people and places we encounter. We are free.
In the German church, Epiphany is still celebrated on the 6th of January, and it marks the official end of the Christmas season. The city will pick up our tree tomorrow, and the decorations will return to the basement.
But the light remains. We will continue to celebrate with Karneval, and each day will bring a little more light.
May we reflect the same light of Christ in our lives.
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