Yesterday I planned ahead and wrote my devotional for today-looking forward to offering some reflection on the New year and today’s celebration of Epiphany. The day we celebrate what is revealed to us in Christ: Love, hope, light and life. And then I spent the afternoon following the news from the United States. More upset and protests over the election results. More violence. Fear. Chaos. A theme that to me, is just a continuation of events over the past four years, in particular this past year as the United States prepared for it’s election. Personally, I have watched the events of the past few years in the US, angered at times by the injustices, and the verbal and physical harm that has occurred.. From racism and sexism to bribary and deception. It’s been hard to watch, and now, six days into a new year, we watch as the leader of a democratic country encourages protestors to stop a process that is meant to certify election results. There are no words to describe how difficult it is to watch such blatant disregard for democracy and this abuse of power. All of this stands as a reminder that the political violence of other countries is not as far removed from us as we might think. The incitement of hatred and division, the encouragement of violence and the deliberate attempts at misleading people are similar to regimes we so often denounce. All while believing that we are so very different and better than that. But the truth is, the hunger for power along with racism, sexism homophobia and more exist here just as much as they do in other countries. Now, it’s overflowing before us. As I Noted at the beginning, today is Epiphany, and the Biblical story that accompanies this day is from Matthew 2. The arrival of the Magi who seek to meet the special child who has been born: Jesus. Although we often focus on the comforting aspects of this story: gift giving Magi who worship Jesus, this story speaks to the events of today. Jesus was born into and preached to a people under occupation of the Roman Empire. They were oppressed, lived in fear and had very little power of their own. The story of the Magi’s visit is a part of a wider story that tells of how King Herod was so power hungry and afraid of being challenged, that he sought to kill the child Jesus. In the words of Rev. Nadia Bolz-Weber: “On today the Feast of the Epiphany, I am reminded that an insecure ruler named Herod was so threatened by the birth of Jesus that he tried to overthrow the result by putting a hit out on a toddler.” Extreme words perhaps, but true words. The story tells us that after the Magi leave Jesus, Herod is so angry that he orders the killing of all children under two. The Christmas and Epiphany story as told in Matthew speaks to the violent, oppressive world that the Light of Christ entered so long ago. It also speaks to way in which God sought to overcome all of this by offering a new Way to follow. A Way proclaimed by Jesus when he grew up. A Way that led to his death, yet even then the light still shone through the empty tomb. Right now, much is being revealed to us. We are learning again and again of how much still needs to be changed, even here in North America. Sexism and racism and homophobia still run strong. The hunger for power at all costs still reigns in the heart of many. It feels overwhelming. Unbearable. Unbelievable. But it must be believed. And we must bear it. We must bear it, so that we can then help to overcome it. And so, IN these revealing times, let us open our hearts to what we hear, so that we might be agents of change in the days to come. For this is what Christ calls us to. But for tonight, listen. Learn. Ask questions. Cry. And tomorrow, Arise and embrace the light that still shines, even if it’s hard to see. Arise and shine, for our Light has come. Our Light has come, and will continue to come. Trust in it, and bear that light together, in hope and love.
Devotional written by Rev. Tara Ann Gourson with reference to Matthew 2.
Bideford Pastoral Charge 