Recognition, a reflection on Ephesians 3:1-12

Repeat:

Epiphany on the Christian calendar is celebrated on January 6, the 12th Day of Christmas. The term, epiphany, means recognition.

For us, epiphany is demonstrated by the wise men guided by the star as they travel toward Bethlehem. There they, outsiders that they are, recognize the new King. The old king can't find the child by himself. Refer to Matthew 2:1-12 for details.

So, epiphany is the occasion for us to remember that outsiders recognized the Christ child.

Paul says to the Ephesians, and through them to us: People that we religious types did not once think should be included, well, I've been sent to tell you that they, too, are indeed included. They share in the inheritance we claim, they are family; the good news is for them as well as for us.


Lectio Divina:
Give the king your justice, O God, and your righteousness to a king's son....From oppression and violence he redeems their life; and precious is their blood in his sight (Psalm 71:1, 13)


Of this gospel I have become a servant acording to the gift of God's grace that was given me by the working of his power (Ephesians 3:7).

Daily prayer -- Wednesday

Arise, shine for your light has come, and the glory of the Lord has risen upon you

Invitatory Psalm 118

O God, you come to us in the boldness and confidence you have granted us through Christ Jesus our Lord.
Psalms 12, 13, 17

Reading Ephesians 3:1-10

Lectio Divina:

Of this gospel I have become a servant according to the grace that was given me by the working of his power (Ephesians 3:7).

God delivers the needy when they call, the poor, and those who have no helper (Psalm 72:12).

Midday Psalm 119:49-73

Evening Psalm 18

Arise and Shine, Reflections on Isaiah 60:1-22 and Psalm 72

Repeats:

Isaiah is speaking to people who have known defeat and desolation: Arise and shine for your light has come.

We're reading these words as we are still reeling from the economic shocks that have hit our world. We read them as we contemplate the continuing violence among peoples and nations.

Arise and shine for your light has come.

How are we to believe in this great reversal? How do we recognize God's power that has come into our lives? And how do we transmit that great power?

Isaiah explained that when God shares wealth and power, there's a reason: Nations shall come to your light. They all gather together and come to you.


An Ideal Ruler, Reflection on Psalm 72:1-2, 10-14
In the Christian calendar, we celebrate Epiphany (on January 6 or on the first Sunday after Christmas).

The presence of God is revealed. God's light draws us to Christ, and radiates in us and through us.

As we think about Christ as the perfect leader, we can also think about how us humans are supposed to do our leading. Look at Psalm 72.

A leader is supposed to judge with righteousness, to judge the poor with justice. Keep reading.

A leader is supposed to care for the needy, the poor, and those without a helper. A leader is supposed to redeem the the weak and the needy from oppression and violence.

Consider working some more on your New Year's Resolutions.

Lectio Divina:

Give the king your justice, O God, and your righteousness to a king's son. May he be like rain that falls on the mown grass, like showers that water the earth. In his days may righteousness flourish and peace abound...For he delivers the needy when they call, the poor and those who have no helper. He has pity on the weak and the needy (Psalm 72:1, 6-7, 12-13).

Daily prayer -- Tuesday, January 4, 2011

Morning
Arise, shine for your light has come and the glory of the Lord has risen upon you.

Invitatory
O God, you are my God, I seek you, my soul thirsts for you,
as in a dry and weary land where there is no water.
So I have looked upon you in the sanctuary,
beholding your power and glory.
Because your steadfast love is better than life,
my lips will praise you.
So I will bless you as long as I live;
I will lift up my hands and call on your name. Psalm 63

Psalms 9, 10

Reading: Isaiah 60:1-6

Lectio Divina:

For darkness shall cover the earth, and thick darkness the peoples; but the Lord will arise upon you (Isaiah 60:2)

May he defend the cause of the poor of the people, give deliverance to the needy, and crush the oppressor (Psalm 72:4).

Prayer for the Epiphany of the Lord
Everlasting God, the radiance of faithful souls,
you brought the nations to your light
and kings to the brightness of your rising.
Fill the world with your glory, and show yourself to all the nations;
through him who is the true light and the bright and morning star,
even Jesus Christ your Son our Lord. Amen (UMBOW 297)

Midday: Psalm 119:25-48

Evening
Psalm 134
Psalms 11,14,15,16

Epiphany, a Reflection on Matthew 2:1-12

Twelve days after the celebration of the birth of Jesus, the church calendar marks the recognition of the impact of that birth. Recognition of the impact not only on the Jews but on the ruling powers and on those subject to them. Recognition not only by those first impacted but to the nations.

This reading from Matthew reminds us that even at the beginning of his life, foreigners were able to recognize his importance--and, persons in power felt threatened by him.

Repeat:

Some scholars were studying, as they had been studying, the sky when they observed a rising star. This startling phenomenon indicates to them that a new king has been born in Jerusalem. These wise men, perhaps from Persia, maybe Arabia, are compelled by their discovery to try to find out more. They journey to Jerusalem.

There, they seek out Herod the Great who had been appointed King of the Jews by the Roman Senate several decades earlier. He does not welcome the idea of a competitor to his power.

I have recently discovered Richard Einerson's Prayers of the People, a lectionary-based prayer guide. Here's a portion of the prayer for Epiphany:
... Be in all of those places where people seek like the Magi to journey to find Jesus, child of hope. Be with all who follow the bright stars of their lives...Be with all who live with the threats of reprisal, persecution, or danger because of their beliefs. Be with all leaders and temper their power with justice and love for people. O God, may the tragedies of the past not be repeated. May there be peace and good will among all people and may their journeys through life not be interrupted by tyrants. Amen.

Daily prayer--Monday, January 3, 2011

Morning:
Arise, shine: for your light has come, and the glory of the Lord has risen upon you.(Isaiah 60:1)

O Come, let us sing to the Lord; let us make a joyful noise to the rock of our salvation!
Let us come into your presence with thanksgiving. (Psalm 95:1-2)

Psalms 1, 2, 3, 5

Read Matthew 2:1-12

Where is this child who has been born king of the Jews. We have come to pay him homage (Matthew 2:1-2)

O God, we come to you in the boldness and confidence you have granted us through Jesus Christ our Lord (Ephesians 3:11-12)

Midday: Psalm 119:1-24

Evening
Psalm 4
Psalms 6,7,8

Schedule for Reading the Psalms

Try reading through the Psalter every month by following this Schedule.

Blessings We Have Received, a Reflection on Ephesians 1:3-14

On this second Sunday after Christmas, the lectionary reminds us of the blessing we have received through Christ--adoption, forgiveness, and redemption.

God has chosen to include us. (When this letter was first read, Gentiles would have understood that they were included along with the Jews could now look at God as Father. We who are used to the idea of Gentile being a sort of synonym for Christian may not get the impact of this thought or we may not be willing to extend the adoption to groups that just don't seem to be God's type of family.)

Our inclusion comes through grace. But, having been included, we can respond.

Prayers for Epiphany

Everlasting God, the radiance of faithful souls,
you brought the nations to your light
and kings to the brightness of your rising.

Fill the world with your glory, and show yourself to all the nations;
through him who is the true light and the bright and morning star,
even Jesus Christ your Son our Lord. Amen.
(UMBOW 296, from Latin Sacramentary)

O God,
you made of one blood all nations,
and, by a star in the East,
revealed to all peoples him whose name is Emmanuel.
Enable us who know your presence with us
so to proclaim his unsearchable riches
that all may come to his light
and bow before the brightness of his rising,
who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,
now and for ever. Amen
(UMH 255)

The Praise of Wisdom, a Reflection on Sirach 24:1-12 and Wisdom 10:15-21

One of the alternative Old Testament (well, actually, Apocrypha) passages paired with the reading from the Gospel of John this week is from the book known as "Ecclesiasticus (church book)," or as the Wisdom of Jesus Son of Sirach." Ben Sira (another way of saying the author's name) was a teacher who wrote this book around 180 BCE. The prologue was added a few decades later.

He was writing to observant Jews that were living in a world that had been pretty much Hellenized, exhorting them to stick to the wisdom found in their traditions. In the passage in this week's lectionary, Wisdom speaks for herself, "I came from the mouth of the Most High."

Like the Word in John's Gospel, Wisdom has her origin in God and is an agent of God.

[with help from the commentary in The New Interpreter's Study Bible.

The lectionary response to the reading from Sirach is Wisdom of Solomon 10:15-21; here's a portion:

A holy people and blameless race
wisdom delivered from a nation of oppressors.
She entered the soul of a servant of the Lord,
and withstood dread kings with wonders and signs.
She gave to holy people the reward of their labors;
she guided them along a marvelous way,
and became a shelter to them by day,
and a starry flame through the night(16-17).