A New Year’s Revelation
I haven’t heard much about New Year’s resolutions this year - they seem to have been replaced by ‘New Year’s restrictions’ and just a week into 2021, some of us might be feeling as though we’ve already had enough news to last us a whole year! At The Source we’ve been thinking about a New Year’s revelation as we embrace the time of year in the church calendar which is known as ‘Epiphany’.
After the anticipation of Advent, Epiphany celebrates the revelation and manifestation of Jesus as Saviour of all peoples of the world, represented by the Magi coming to worship him. What a great way to begin the new year asking for a fresh revelation of Jesus in our lives and for a greater manifestation of his presence in us and in the world!
I restarted Local Vocals Community Choir on Thursday (on Zoom of course!) and one of the songs we sang was by Joni Mitchell, the lyrics resonating with many of us:
I've looked at life from both sides now
From up and down, and still somehow
It's life's illusions I recall
I really don't know life at all
As we reflect on this season, we realise again there are things in life that we know, things we don’t know, things we see, things we don’t see, things that are veiled and things that are unveiled. One thing is sure, we can still ‘resolve’ to learn and discover more this year about ourselves, each other and God.
In addition to the biblical narrative of the Magi, Epiphany also draws us towards the story of Simeon and Anna, recognising the Messiah at the Temple where Jesus was with his parents. As we read and remember the revelation of Jesus as Saviour to these people, we can also reflect on our own lives, enabling the work of Christ in us to shine forth (as the word Epiphany is defined).
The story of Simeon (Luke 2:25-35) is about an old man who held on to the unveiled, to the promise but not the fulfilment until the end of his life. He was waiting. But he was also righteous and devout, not seeking to circumvent God’s plans, or fast-track progress towards seeing that which God has promised him. Even after he had seen the Consolation of Israel with his own eyes, Simeon didn’t go and tell a whole bunch of people. Like Mary, he held God’s word in his heart, he waited and in the end that brought him a tremendous sense of closure. He shows us it’s important to look forward to God’s plan, but also to recognise when we see it fulfilled.
What sort of things are we holding in our heart at this time? Not just promises of what we will do, places we will go, things we will achieve, but the promise of Christ’s ongoing work in our lives - his presence, his power, his peace. Do we need to recapture those things? Do we need to recognise and give thanks where we have seen God fulfil these things?
Simeon’s narrative ‘partner’ Anna enters soon after in Luke’s gospel (2:26-38) with not just prayerfulness and prophetic insight but with an active contemplative life. She speaks into and speaks forward salvation through Jesus to his own parents. She is widow, a woman who shouldn’t have a voice or opinion in her day, but approaching Mary and Joseph she affirms Christ as Saviour, the one ‘to all who were looking forward to the redemption of Jerusalem’.
Can we think of a time when we thought “no, I won’t say it”, a time when we wanted to say something to bring something affirming, positive, even transforming? In the tradition of the Ignatian spiritual discipline called Examen, first replay that scene in your mind. Now replay it and imagine yourself speaking out those words you wanted to. Notice the positive response it brings. Now think of a time this coming week where there’s an opportunity for you to speak into a situation or to a person to make a difference. Resolve in your heart to do that when this moment arrives.
Returning to the story of the Magi (Matthew 2: 1-12), most associated with Epiphany, these men are asking “where is the one who has been born King of the Jews? We saw his star when it rose and have come to worship Him”. When we contrast this with Herod asking Jesus’ whereabouts, we observe a different motivation for seeking Jesus - for destruction. Watching the news this week has been a sobering reminder that leadership, authority and power can be used and abused with devastating results.
But there’s good news - Epiphany is not just a day, but a season that takes us up to the start of Lent in mid-February. Not only that, it’s a season of feasting! (which may not be such good news for some of us!) As a community who observe the feasts and festivals of the Christian year, so for the next five weeks we will be encouraging each other to be ‘Epiphany People’, a community that holds God’s word in our hearts but also speaks to those around us, helping others to navigate their way towards the person of Jesus.