The Feast of the Epiphany
I’m not suggesting that we bargain or negotiate with Jesus. But when we at long last, on a year’s journey, discover the Babe in the Stable again, what shall we give Him? Gold, frankincense, myrrh? Probably not, even if Target or TJ Max has it on sale after Christmas. What He wants, what He hopes we will bring Him, is our best self. The one He chose and created for us. So that we could use it, honor it, and bring it back to Him, whole, clean, and holy. Whether we give ourselves as we celebrate the end of the year as a thank you, or at the start of the new year as an offering, probably doesn’t really matter. What matters is that we come, bring the best we have gift wrapped in love, and endeavor to journey through the next year being the best person we can be, doing the best we know how, and follow His shining star until it once again leads us back to the simplicity of a stable.
Sometimes the journey seems endless. There are storms, turbulence, illness, even deaths. We meet robbers, pirates, liars, evil doers, and a lot of distractions. Some are masquerading as good things to entice us off the good road. We must keep our eyes on that star. And keep on going. That’s what wise men do.