“Oh, what joy for those
whose disobedience is forgiven,
whose sin is put out of sight!”
The Alleluia of Easter
while living in a Good Friday world,
King David’s words resonate with me increasingly
as I near the day of celebration.
Caspar David Friedrich 1833
My Lenten journey has been long
as I’ve plumbed new depths of relationship
with Father, Son and Holy Spirit.
Spiritual discoveries gained through exploration
of new directions led by Holy Spirit,
that voice behind me saying,
"This is the way you should go,”” Is 30.21.
From the very inception of this Lenten journey
I have been led on a new path.
Not a common path of caffeine or sugar sacrifice;
A path of inner recognition; a path of listening and hearing;
a path of relational focus;
An uncommon path of sacrificing distractions.
I was impelled to answer the searching gaze that queried,
“What is keeping you occupied?
What has your attention?
Your focus? Your heart?”
Which is, of course, what God is always pursuing;
our heart. My heart in this case.
And was it a worthy focus? A worthy occupation?
These attractions; these distractions
that so cleverly kept my attention?
Anaesthetizing me to the very relationship
to which I’m called and for which I’m created.
The questions searched the depths of me; my core.
Which they must if I am to be changed.
To be conformed to the image
of the One who designed and desires me as His own.
And so the journey continues.
Hearing, now that I’m listening.
Listening, now that I’m hearing.
The joy and beauty of a developing love relationship.
By spending time together.
Which is exactly what this Lenten journey has provided. Focused time – together.
Time intentionally redirected to God.
Reading and re-reading His love letters.
Conversation. Notes taken in those conversations.
Ah hah moments of revelation.
Gratitude and reflection.
Contemplation of beauty – His beauty.
Of person, heart, love, nature.
‘Altogether lovely’, isn’t He described in scripture?
And I’ve - we’ve – been invited
to discover this loveliness for ourselves.
And so I enter into Easter.
Into this celebration of joy.
Undivided in heart and attention.
In heart satisfying relationship with my Saviour.
And with all Easter people I joyfully proclaim,
Alleluia! Christ is risen!
The Lord is risen indeed!
The visit of the Wise Men symbolizes the appearing of the Savior to the Gentiles in particular. The baptism of Jesus was his public manifestation as the Son of God. The title "Son of God" in Jewish was a royal one, reserved for the king of Israel (see Psalm 2, for example). Yet Jesus was the Son of God, not only because of his unique Messianic calling, but also because of his unique relationship with God the Father.
On the holiday of Epiphany, it is appropriate for us to consider how God makes himself known in the world today. To be sure, the heavens declare God's glory and the Scripture encapsulates his truth. But God has chosen to manifest himself today largely through his people, through you and me, and through all of those who are his followers. It's hard to imagine a higher calling than this one: to make the truth and love of God known in the world today.
How can we do this? ...we can communicate the good news by the things we say and the way we live each day. Since the core of the gospel is a story of God's grace, we can illustrate this story by treating others graciously, whether at work or at home. And since the good news centers in the love of God, our love for others will help them to understand and receive this love.
Today, as we celebrate Jesus who came as the light of the world, may we also remember his words in the Sermon on the Mount: "You are the light of the world—like a city on a hilltop that cannot be hidden. No one lights a lamp and then puts it under a basket. Instead, a lamp is placed on a stand, where it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your good deeds shine out for all to see, so that everyone will praise your heavenly Father."
{ and i might add, our attitudes - our heart meditations - affect our responses, our actions. who we are - inside - reflects on what we do 'outside'... exactly why we pray with the Psalmist, that the words of our mouth and the meditation of our heart be pleasing and acceptable in God's sight...FHC }
QUESTIONS FOR FURTHER REFLECTION:
When you picture the baptism of Jesus, what thoughts or feelings come to mind?
How has God made himself known to you?
How might you be a reflection of God's light in the places you live and work?