Epiphany

1 Arise, shine; for your light has come, and the glory of the LORD has risen upon you. 2 For darkness shall cover the earth, and thick darkness the peoples; but the LORD will arise upon you, and his glory will appear over you. 3 Nations shall come to your light, and kings to the brightness of your dawn. (Isaiah 60:1-3)

Darkness hides. Light reveals. The three wise men "from the east" represent a new dawn. They represent the revelation that the God of Israel is the God of all. And this God has done the unthinkable to reclaim His creation. The star they followed illuminated their path through the darkness of worldly kingship and led them to the Light of the world.

At the dawning of a new year it's fitting that we celebrate the dawning of new understanding, new relationship, new unity between Creator and created. A fresh start, a clean slate. May the light of God brighten the way before us, shine through us, and reveal God's self in surprising ways and places.

Follow the star to a place unexpected Would you believe, after all we've projected, A child in a manger? Lowly and small, the weakest of all Unlikeliest hero, wrapped in his mother's shawl Just a child Is this who we've waited for?

'Cause how many kings step down from their thrones How many lords have abandoned their homes? How many greats have become the least for me? And how many gods have poured out their hearts To romance a world that is torn all apart How many fathers gave up their sons for me?

Only One did that for me

- "How Many Kings" by Downhere

9 When they had heard the king, they set out; and there, ahead of them, went the star that they had seen at its rising, until it stopped over the place where the child was. 10 When they saw that the star had stopped, they were overwhelmed with joy. (Matthew 2:9-10)