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Epiphany: Shining God’s Universal Love (#1846)

2020/01/06 By Greg

First Presbyterian Church (Fort Worth, TX) – Photo by Greg Smith

Today is January 6: the twelfth day of Christmas and Epiphany (or the first day of the season of Epiphany – depending on your tradition).

I invite you to read the Epiphany story in Matthew 2:1-12, and to consider the following

  • The insecurity of the King (if you keep reading in Matthew 2 you’ll encounter the slaughter of the innocents)
  • The geographical origin of the the Magi (likely modern Iran)
  • The importance of light (in the form of a star)

So What?

Those reading this post today (January 6, 2020) or sometime soon thereafter will likely make some connections between the biblical story and the stories happening in our world. With or without such connections, it is worth pausing for a few minutes to ponder the light of the star.

Yesterday, many congregations observed Epiphany – including
First Presbyterian Church in Fort Worth, Texas
. As I sat listening to the Rev. Dr. Michael Washevski preach on this passage and offer wisdom about the light of the star, I was transfixed by the light that shone all around me.

I suspect my wonderment led me to miss a bit of his message. Nonetheless I heard Michael quite clearly when he proclaimed, “The light of the star reveals God’s universal love.”

That’s it! Look all around. Watch for it. Catch a glimpse or be bold and bask in unending rays of God’s universal love. This light is still shining brightly.

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Greg Smith

Greg is a follower of the Way of Jesus who strives to make the world a better place for all people. Currently, he serves as Chief Executive Officer of White Rock Center of Hope and as Interim Senior Pastor of Advent Lutheran Church. He has served ten congregations, taught religion to undergraduates for eight years, and helped three organizations provide quality healthcare to underserved populations. (Read More)

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