Epiphany: Wednesday, January 6, 2010

Old Testament Lesson

Isaiah 49:1-7

The Lord desired that His people be a light to the nations. He desired that His people Israel show His light, His love, His mercy to all the world, so that the entire world would know about God. That was their job. That was what they were chosen for. To show the world the goodness of God.

That is the job of His people today. If you are a Christian, that is your job. You are to show the love of God today. Through your words, your actions, your life. Does that mean that we have to be perfect? No. It means that we need to receive grace and give grace. We need to forgive and be forgiven. We need to love and be loved. Today, in our lives, we show the grace of God. May we reflect God to all that we meet.

New Testament Lesson

Revelation 21:22-27

This life is not end. Whatever you are going through today, it's not the end. There is more to come. There is a hope greater than this life, there is a purpose greater than this life. The trials you face today, they are not the end of your story. The troubles you face today, they are not the end of your story. There is more to come.

Don't give up. Don't lose hope. There is more to come. We are a people of hope. May we never lose it.

Gospel Lesson

Matthew 2:14-21

After the Wise Men came and left, Herod tried to kill Jesus and in that killed all the boys under two. We see the face of evil. Evil doesn't care who it hurts, as long as it gets what it wants. Love looks first to the needs of others. We are called to love, to look first to others. To help, to love, to care. And, we find that in doing that, we find more life than we'd have ever found in looking only to ourselves. Today, and each day, may we look to the needs of others.