Snow & Epiphany

I look out of my office window this late January day and see a gray sky with more snow falling on a blanket of snow that has been here over three weeks. We haven’t been pummeled with a major snow storm but it seems like we have had snow on the ground an abnormally long time. It also seems like each day has a little bit of new snow that needs to be cleared off from the drive ways and walk ways. I certainly enjoyed the beauty of the snow in the mountains of Colorado but I admit that I am getting a bit weary of the ever present snow this winter in Pandora. The present temperatures are not all that cold but it would be nice to have just a couple of days in the 50’s or even 60’s. I missed those temperatures at the beginning of this month. When growing up in Kansas, it always seemed that we would get a few breaks from the frigid weather. I remember even having a picnic in January one year. Ohio winters seem to seldom have warm weather breaks like that.

In the darkness and dreariness of winter we need a reminder of the Light that has come to our world in the person of Jesus Christ. Epiphany is the liturgical season of the church that is known as the season of light and revelation. Epiphany begins on January 6 when the magi following the light of the star are celebrated and continues until Lent begins on Ash Wednesday (March 9 in 2011).

A key passage for Epiphany is Isaiah 60:1-3

Arise, shine, for your light has come,

and the glory of the LORD rises upon you.

See, darkness covers the earth

and thick darkness is over the peoples,

but the LORD rises upon you

and his glory appears over you.

Nations will come to your light,

and kings to the brightness of your dawn.

Jesus is the light of the world! In this season of cold darkness, we need to remind ourselves of that fact. Even though it is dark and cold outside and it seems as if winter will never end we can walk in the light of Jesus Christ. We also can bring the light of Christ to others who are walking in darkness.

The first part of the Sermon of the Mount will be the focus of our worship services during February. After the call of the first disciples in Matthew 4, Jesus explains what his kingdom is all about in this great teaching section of Matthew 5, 6 and 7.

May the Light of Jesus Christ and his Kingdom show us the way in the darkness and gloom of this winter. May each one of us share the Light of Christ to those who for some reason or another find themselves in darkness.