Eucharistic Readings for Epiphany
Isaiah 60:1-6; Psalm 72:1-7,10-14: Ephesians 3:1-12: Matthew 2:1-12
For surely you have already heard of the commission of God’s grace that was given to me for you, and how the mystery was made known to me by revelation, as I wrote above in a few words, a reading of which will enable you to perceive my understanding of the mystery of Christ. (Ephesians 3:2 to 4)
Paul writes a lot. And while his letter to the Church in Ephesus is considered a “deuteron-Pauline letter,” (that is, actually written by someone else) by most scholars, these words for today reveal the power of revelation.
The writer says “a reading of which will enable you to perceive my understanding of the mystery of Christ.” The truth is, we should all have some understanding of the mystery of Christ. However, how does one understand a mystery? For if something is understood, is it still a mystery? I think we are to try to comprehend as much as we can about the mystery of Christ always accepting that as we learn more, more will be revealed to us. We must stay open to evolving spiritually for as long as we live. And like Paul when traveling to Damascus to do evil, we too must admit when what we are doing is not the will of God and adjust our attitude and goals.
Adjusting what we believe about God is evidence of the light of Epiphany. The Bible gets us started, but once we believe in God, God takes it from there. And like Paul, or whoever is writing for Paul, we too should journal and leave a legacy of our faithful thoughts for those whom we leave behind. In this way we participate in the continuing revelation of the Epiphany of God, a light to those outside of ourselves.
As we listen to what the Spirit of God is saying to us, let us live to love and serve, and to teach others to love and serve, while pondering anew what the Almighty can do. John
Let us pray: (BCP p.832)
Direct us, O Lord, in all our doings with thy most gracious favor, and further us with thy continual help; that in all our works begun, continued, and ended in thee, we may glorify thy holy Name, and finally, by thy mercy, obtain everlasting life; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
onewhoponders 