Spirit Sounding Reflection for the Feast of Epiphany

Executive Presbyter-elect, Ruth Santana-Grace Spirit Soundings, A Reflection for the Feast of Epiphany –

“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things came into being through him, and without him not one thing came into being. 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 1:1-5

The Season of Epiphany – Living into and bearing the Light

RFSG (2)As we enter this new year and as we prepare to celebrate the Feast of the Epiphany (or the Feast of the Three Magi as it is called in many parts of the world), I can’t help but continue to be reminded of what unfolded in human history thousands of years ago. God’s light breaks into the darkness of the night – not only for shepherds and magi to see, but for the entirety of creation to see and embrace. Now perhaps it is because of a New Testament professor in seminary; perhaps it is because of my ministry with and among the Waldensians years ago, but I love the Johanine narrative of the incarnation – The light shines in the darkness, but the darkness did not overcome it. I love its imagery – I can picture in my mind’s eye a pitch-black sky – no shadows, no silhouettes – just darkness. Perhaps you too have seen this sky. I can then imagine a tiny white flickering speck, barely visible to the naked eye. I imagine that light as it becomes more and more visible – growing both in size and illumination. I can close my eyes and see the curtain of darkness being opened with God’s revelation in the incarnation of the infant child.

Some of you may know that the Waldensians are the oldest existing Protestant denomination in the world, having been birthed in the 1100s in Lyon, France (today, they are in formally in Italy, Argentina and Uruguay). Having experienced hundreds of years of oppression and massacres of full communities, they summarized the hope of their faith with the words “Lux Lucet in Tenebris” – Light shines in the darkness. Today their small numbers (some 45,000 worldwide) do not deter them from fighting forces of darkness and injustice around them. This has come to say it all for me! Christ is that light that breaks into the darkness and we, created in the image of the One who created us, are to be bearers of that light in this world. We are to claim that light and shine that light with who we are and how we live (more so, than with what we say). This has become a source of courage and hope for me – that together, you and I – can bring that kind of hope and illumination to the world, not because we are better or more-deserving than others in the world, but because “God so loved the world”(John 3:16). For me, it all begins with and grows from this simple but profound truth of our faith.

Now I am not big on New Year’s resolutions, probably because I am guilty of not keeping them. But I do believe new years invite us to consider where we’ve been and where we are going. So as 2014 has come upon us – and we again recall how God revealed and continues to reveal his presence and love to all creation, my question to me and to us is – How will we choose to be light in the spaces where God has placed us? How will we, as communities of faith, commit to live out this truth among and with one another? (side comment – at times, I think we focus “outside” so we do not need to deal with our darkness “inside” within our more intimate communities.) How will we as leaders in congregations and in other ministries, choose to bear light to the people with whom God has entrusted us (family, friends, colleagues, etc.)? What commitment will we make to bring a flicker of God’s shining light and hope into this world so that the curtain of darkness will continue to be breached and broken? In other words – using the words of the prophet Micah – how will you and I choose to “do justice, love kindness and walk humbly with our God?” Now I am not naive – there is no question that the challenges are many and the struggles are real, but I believe the possibilities are also infinite, like the stars that break through the darkness of the nights. They but require our tenacity, our faithfulness, our imagination and our willingness of heart.

So as we move into this new year – a year with many unknowns, with new relationships, with new opportunities and challenges, may the light of the season of Epiphany continue to break into our hearts, our lives and our witness – as a presbytery, as communities of faith, and as individual disciples of the one whose cries continue to break into our hearts with transforming power.

May we always remember that the light breaks into the darkness, and the darkness did not, does not and will never overcome it! May we be open to how God’s mystery continues to unfold among and within us. May 2014 be abundant with God’s light and blessings!

Your companion, friend, sister on the journey,

Ruth

Please click here for a PDF version: SpiritSoundingsfor3January2014

A prayer in this Season of Epiphany (author unknown)

Bright Star, Holy One
Be with those who suffer, struggle, cry out, weep,
Are in pain of heart or soul or mind;
From the darkness, may the glory of God arise!
Bright Star, Holy One
Fill the hearts of leaders, nations, cities
and faith communities with wisdom and grace.
May the glory of God arise!
Bright Star, Holy One,
Lead our leaders in your way, your hope,
your love and your peace.
Enlighten the pathways.
With the Glory of God, arise!
Bright Star, Holy One
Laugh with those who laugh this day; lift up our joys,
Our hope is found in you.
May the Glory of God arise.
Bright Star, Holy One
Help us in all we do and say and are,
To be your love shining forth –
May the Glory of God arise.
Bright Star, Holy One
Hear our prayers. Amen.olive bar