“Arise, shine, for your light has come, and the glory of the Lord has risen upon you.  For behold, darkness shall cover the earth, and thick darkness the peoples; but the Lord will arise upon you, and his glory will be seen upon you.  And nations shall come to your light, and kings to the brightness of your rising.” Isaiah 60:1-3

In the beginning, God spoke into the darkness and caused the light to shine.  Yahweh reveals Himself in His Word and in the light, which are Jesus.  He is the Word made flesh and the light of the world.  He is the promise and the fulfillment.  He is the light, which the prophet Isaiah foretold that would come into the world.  He is the Light which scatters the darkness and to which the nations are drawn.

The threat of darkness looms across the globe.  We worry about far away places like the Ukraine or Gaza.  We also hear about the darkness in our communities and amongst our friends and family.  However, we acknowledge the darkness of our own hearts and minds.  We daily sin much and have chased after the darkness rather than walking in the light.

What a blessed comfort it is to know that Jesus Christ is not just the light for nations, but, as St. Paul writes, “For God, who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,” has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.”  The Epiphany hope that we proclaim is that God has shone the light of Christ into our dark hearts that they might be filled with His forgiveness and love.  May You continue to bask in the light of Christ’s love during this season of light and throughout your days!

Prayer - Almighty God, You know we live in the midst of so many dangers that in our frailty we cannot stand upright. Grant strength and protection to support us in all dangers and carry us through all temptations; through Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.  Amen.

Fraternally in Christ,

President Lee Hagan