Reaching Out from
Grand Lake Community Chapel
Wednesday, January 6, 2020
Greetings in Christ!
This is the day that the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it! Let us rejoice that today is the Epiphany of the Lord (or Three Kings day, if you prefer), the day that the wise men arrived at the manger to greet and honor the Christ Child. Their arrival heralded the expansion of Jesus’ call to bring salvation to all peoples, from his initial task of saving only the Jews, that will be more fully articulated about mid-way through the Gospels – which is incredibly good news for all of us who are not descended from the Hebrew people. Thanks be to God for this gift that continues to bring light to the world over 2,000 years later!
The Magi had traveled via caravan from the East, an arduous journey that in reality would have taken many months, instead of merely twelve days, because they had seen the star at its rising. These men were astronomers, most likely practitioners of Zoroastrianism, an ancient religion based on astronomy and astrology, and were keenly aware of any changes in the night skies. In our technology-driven world, living as we do in warm and comfortable homes with electric lights and myriad conveniences, we aren’t often as intimately acquainted with the night sky as our ancestors were. We think that’s too bad, because looking up at the layers upon layers of stars can fill us with a sense of awe and wonder that is sadly lacking in our daily lives. Your pastors love to camp and to sit around a campfire looking up at the stars, or to step outside into the yard and life our eyes heavenward; we find it to be incredibly peaceful, and we often have rich, meaningful conversations as we watch the layers of light develop. Why don’t you bundle up and step outside tonight, and look up at the glorious mosaic of light that our Creator God has put in place for us to contemplate and enjoy? You will be amazed at what you see, and by what you feel!
As we enter into the new year (and as we return from our “staycation”), now is a good time to take a few moments to reflect on the journey that was 2020, and to look forward to the journey that will be 2021. Just as it took the Magi more than twelve days to reach Bethlehem, it will take all of us more than a handful of days to fully appreciate what this year will bring. So look up to the stars, see what you can see, and allow yourself to be guided into the presence of Christ.
In Christ,
Karen and Greg
For the grace of God has appeared,
bringing salvation to all men, Titus 2:11
Grand Lake Community Chapel 