December 30, 2023.

The Sixth Day of Christmas

The Journey to an Epiphany

Today I was thinking about all the times I eagerly awaited something or someone to come.  As a child, of course, it was most often Christmas, or my birthday.  As an adult it was some special someone to love, or visiting friends or relatives, or having friends or relatives visit me, or the birth of a child.  And as the years passed it was a grand vacation, or even a much awaited concert.  The anticipation was an important part of the mix, no matter what.  Sometimes, I waited at home for the event or the person(s) to come.  Often, I would make the journey for the visit.  It did not matter which, there was always excitement in the air.  Waiting, anticipation, and finally the hour, the fulfillment, the absolute joy.  There will be times when the journey is brief.  There will be times when the journey is long, and possibly even arduous.  Along The Way there is always a chance we might meet others who will try to dissuade us from the original plan, offering suggestions, leading us from the path.  But then, there is always the guidance from within.  There is always The Light.  We will make the most amazing journeys as we walk the Earth, if we will listen to the still, small voice within, watch for The Light, and follow The Star.

          On this sixth day of Christmas, 2023, the reading I have chosen is from Matthew 2:7-8.

The Reading

December 30, 2023

“Then Herod called the Magi secretly and found out from them the exact time the star had appeared. ⁸ He sent them to Bethlehem and said, “Go and search carefully for the child. As soon as you find him, report to me, so that I too may go and worship him.” Matthew 2:7-8

December 29, 2023

The Fifth Day of Christmas

The Journey to an Epiphany

When a loved one passes, during the season of Christmas, emotions, feelings, somehow resonate in a different way.  It seems that this time of year magnifies that which we feel, takes us beyond what is considered to be the norm.  And perhaps it is because we are remembering the Incarnation, (“the embodiment of a deity or spirit in some earthly form”) (Merriam Webster).  Think on it.  At Christmas we are commemorating The Incarnation, God became human, spirit became flesh.  But we are all spirit, becoming flesh, when we are born upon Earth.  When the time comes to each of us to return Home, then our flesh releases spirit.  Ego ceases to hold its place.  It is energy changing form.  It is all holy, sacred, and sometimes more than we can comprehend fully.  These feelings are with us at this time of year, especially when someone we love makes the passing.  They are flesh releasing, unfolding, opening, returning wholly to spirit.  This alone is cause for celebration.  And we can add to that concept that we can become even closer to that person whom we miss for that very reason.  They have returned to spirit, as we are celebrating Spirit becoming flesh.  It can be a mystery, yet the answer is held, within each of us.

          On this fifth day of Christmas, 2023, the reading I have chosen is from Matthew 2:3-6.

The Reading

December 29, 2023

“When King Herod heard this he was disturbed, and all Jerusalem with him. ⁴ When he had called together all the people’s chief priests and teachers of the law, he asked them where the Messiah was to be born. ⁵ “In Bethlehem in Judea,” they replied, “for this is what the prophet has written:

⁶ “‘But you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah,
are by no means least among the rulers of Judah;
for out of you will come a ruler
who will shepherd my people Israel.” Matthew 2:3-6

December 28, 2023

The Fourth Day of Christmas

The Journey to an Epiphany

How often do we either hear of, or know, someone who has let all things go to follow a light, follow a dream, follow a star.  It is exciting just thinking of their doing it, and making a go of it, growing every step along The Way.  Somehow, in all the joy of another’s accomplishment, we seem to forget that we too can do it.  We are all sent a light.  We all can be led, by the still, small voice from within, reminding us that we can do it.  Doubt clouds the possibility.  Hesitation pulls us back into complacency.  And before long that dream, that light, that star begins to fade into everyday tasks and chores.  For me, this is a good time of year to have a reality check.  What have I missed?  I am sure there are many things.  I can certainly name a few.  But I do not want the past choices to dim the dream, the light, the star pointing me into tomorrow.  All I really need to do is say, “yes” in the present, and off I will go on a great spiritual adventure.  The possibilities are endless.  What do you think about going with me?  You also hold the light, the dream, the star; and if we let go The Holy Spirit within will lead us far.  What will we find?  I am sure what is revealed to each of us will be different in many ways, the same in some ways.  But I am also sure that the journey will be well worth the effort.  I do not know about you, but I am excited to see where The Spirit will lead me.  Today my answer is, “Yes.”   What about you?

          On this fourth day of Christmas, 2023, the reading I have chosen is from Matthew 2:1-2.

The Reading

December 28, 2023

“After Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, during the time of King Herod, Magi^[a] from the east came to Jerusalem ² and asked, “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.” Matthew 2:1-2

December 27, 2023

The Third Day of Christmas

The Journey to an Epiphany

Each of us can recall a time when we looked forward to something of great import to us.  It could have been a graduation, birth of a child, or the completion of a project, or a mission.  The looking forward to it, the fulfillment of the promise of that which was to come, was always a piece of the whole, for the climax would not be as precious without the accepting, the believing, and the journey of it all.  And that is what occupies my thoughts so often this time of year.  This time we have been renewing and remembering the path toward The Incarnation.  And the time of waiting, seeking, and hoping made it all even more precious.  God made flesh!  It happened!  Nothing we do or say can ever change the glorious truth that The Word was made flesh.  How we choose to see this is all up to us.  It would be a blessing to see it together.  It is exciting to continue our journey, with each other, bringing even more wonder to our lives as we walk The Path of Epiphany.

          On this third day of Christmas, 2023, the reading I have chosen is from Luke 2:15-20.

The Reading

December 26, 2023

“When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let’s go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about.”

¹⁶ So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger. ¹⁷ When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child, ¹⁸ and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them. ¹⁹ But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart. ²⁰ The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen, which were just as they had been told.” Luke 2:15-20