Epiphany

Our readings for Epiphany Sunday are:

1. Isaiah 60: 1-6
2. Psalms 72: 1-2, 7-8, 10-11, 12-13
3. Ephesians 3: 2-3a, 5-6
4. Matthew 2: 1-12

1. It's better with all of us
• How would you define unity among God's people?
• Would that be limited to agreement on essential doctrines?
• Does unity just mean that we are all able to work together for God's Kingdom?
• How can we make that regathering of God's people happen in our midst today?
• Why does it matter?
2. Who are you calling rich?
• Do you feel fortunate?
• Do you think that your good fortune in any way obliges you to others?
• How do you see God tending the afflicted?
• Do you think ministries like Mother Theresa's and The Catholic Worker have made a permanent difference?
• Are those who are hungry, homeless, alone, ... the only "afflicted" in our midst?
• How can we make their lives better as opposed to just easier?
3. Revelation anyone?
• How is God revealing Himself/Herself today?
• Do you feel as though that revelation has been changing at all over the millennia?
• If you think that there have been changes, do you see those changes as merely matters of presentation or substance?
• To what extent is it possible/desirable to be inerrant in our interpretation of that revelation in the face of emerging knowledge and trends in such disciplines as psychology, anthropology, socialogy, ...? 
4. There's just something special here ...
• Imagine yourself one of the magi, seeing Jesus for the first time.  You look at his mother and father, and you immediately recognize them as peasants.  You've seen such all of your life.  You recognize the surroundings as the last option for a family, displaced from home, in the company of strangers, with no one to take them in, helpless, cold, no standing or apparent importance.  You've seen such over and over again.  And yet, you know this is the one, and you prostrate yourself.
• How did they know?
• What of their background prepared them for this moment?
• How can we be better prepared to see and recognize the Messiah, wherever and however He chooses to manifest Himself?

Preparation for Reconciliation:

1. In what ways am I shining for Jesus to those around me?
2. What am I willing to do to bring about true justice in the world?
3. How am I partaking of God's ongoing revelation?
4. How am I making Jesus more and more welcome in my life?

Somehow, This Isn't so Important Anymore

Each of us had carefully chosen our homage to bring.
For me, my people's myrrh was the signature of our tribe.
The essence of weeks of work from entire families back home.

I had wrapped the flask of myrrh carefully so that it would not spill,
Set the carafe in a nest of blankets in my saddle bags for transport,
And always made sure that I checked it each night and morning.

That flask had been on my mind for weeks, for miles beyond counting
As we slowly made our way to this strange outpost of the empire,
To present our homage to the newborn king.

And when I looked into his eyes, and he looked into mine,
I felt such acceptance, and gratitude,
And knew that he could see beyond the flask, the blankets, the caravan

And see into my depths, and see someone able to journey far
Leaving everything behind in order to find meaning
Without even a clear direction nor destination.

And he accepted far more than a mere gift of my home village,
But he accepted me.  And that has made all the difference.
I may have been a king before, but I left royalty.

Shalom!