Walking down the road

Lord God, we have seen
the star of your glory
rising in splendour:may the brightness of your  Wordpierce the  darkness of night and
signal the dawn of justice and peace,We ask this through Jesus Christ, your Word made flesh, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,
in the splendour of eternal light,God for ever and ever.  Amen.

In this season we have "Twelfth Night!"...you know the twelve days of Christmas!...which is January 6th we call this day "Epiphany"

Some readings for this season include Isa 60:1-6, Ps 72, Ephesians 3:1-12, Matt 2:1-12.

I like to burn incense on this day because incense reminds us that, apart from everything else, Jesus is the object of our prayer.

And the smoke of incense is meant to remind us of the holiness of Jesus,

and that Jesus is the source,

the motivation and the mediation of our prayers to our loving Father.

In the Christmas story

Epiphany celebrates the coming of the Magi, 

the Three Wise Men as we often call them.

In our church  (All Hallows Blackwood) they have been walking round the church(!) 

since Christmas Eve

They were probably not there at Bethlehem

(this may seem, but is not, controversial.) 

They were coming  from a far off land

Thematically this event expresses the Christian Gospel 

moving outside the narrow confines of Israel

to all the people of the world.

So we think about God being made known (epiphanised) to all people.

This is in fact what the word "epiphany" means.

--demonstrating, showing forth, exposing,----

This is a most important theme.

Christ is for the world

not just the temple or the Church.

I often say my job as a priest 

is to stand aside

so that people can see Jesus

And, indeed, I think that despite all the Church troubles

in recent times it is the Church that people don't like 

not Jesus.

Where is Jesus in your life?

Where do you need him

Where could he fit?

Where is he reaching out to you?

Where  does Jesus meet us

Typically the words that trigger off responses

to these questions...are love, forgiveness, healing and intimacy

You don't have to be genius to realise that we all crave these things.

I try to bring people to Jesus so that we may know his love, care, forgiveness and healing.

You may wish to pray for yourself that you might know his real presence

touching those places where you are most in need.

Lord Jesus, come into my life todaythat I may know your closeness, your care,your healing and your forgivenessLord Jesus, make yourself know to me today. Amen