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At times we truly have epiphanies: aha moments when disjointed parts of our lives come together in remarkable ways. I’ve had a few of those in conversations with friends or spiritual counselors. But much of the time, the light we seek eludes us. This is where the Body of Christ and prayer come in.
As individuals and community, we practice discernment: the art of seeing and recognizing the Spirit at work in our world. In prayer, we are opened to the light of Christ and its movement in our mind, hearts, and bodies.
A hymn by Bernadette Farrell, “Christ be our Light” (ELW 715), was written for a church discerning how to serve the homeless and hungry in their neighborhood. They decided to build a space where people could be fed and clothed, a refuge of light and warmth from the dark and cold. Farrell’s song was written as a dedication of this space. The verses are prayers of longing, telling the truth of hunger and despair.
We are called to arise and shine and we can by the grace of God. The light of Christ will guide us, following us as we seek to follow.
This message is excerpted from “Arise, shine, this Epiphany” by Jennifer Baker-Trinity in the January 2018 Café online magazine. Today is the Epiphany of Our Lord.