We are still the people walking
JANUARY 6TH, 2010 — EPIPHANY OF THE LORD
Dear Friends,
Today we celebrate the Feast of the Epiphany. As I'm sure you know, in some cultures this is the day of gift exchange among family and friends. In our culture, with the exception of the liturgical celebration, this 'feast day' of Epiphany is generally ignored. In most neighborhoods, discarded Christmas trees dot the landscape, and any other vestige of 'Christmas' is by now history, part of what is left behind with the departure of 2009.
For us as a people of faith, however, this really is a day to celebrate. At the very least, there's relief that "others"... the Magi... the 'astrologers'... the "3 Kings" however they are identified... they are the ones who bear the gifts, and we are merely witnesses to their journey and their 'presents'. No more shopping, wrapping, bearing bundles for us!!
But, as Walter Brueggemann shares in the prayer below, we actually are "still the people walking ", the people , like the 'Wise People' that we will read about today, likewise searching for the light of God, seeking God's presence in our lives. Our question is: "Will we recognize God's Presence when we meet it?" The Wise Ones did... may our eyes and hearts be likewise open to this One at work in our lives.
On Epiphany day,
we are still the people walking.
We are still people in the dark,
and the darkness looms large around us,
beset as we are by fear,
anxiety,
brutality,
violence,
loss —
a dozen alienations that we cannot manage.
We are — we could be — people of your light.
So we pray for the light of your glorious presence
as we wait for your appearing;
we pray for the light of your wondrous grace
as we exhaust our coping capacity;
we pray for your gift of newness that
will override our weariness;
we pray that we may see and know and hear and trust
in your good rule.
That we may have energy, courage, and freedom to enact
your rule through the demands of this day.
We submit our day to you and to your rule, with deep joy and high hope.
we are still the people walking.
We are still people in the dark,
and the darkness looms large around us,
beset as we are by fear,
anxiety,
brutality,
violence,
loss —
a dozen alienations that we cannot manage.
We are — we could be — people of your light.
So we pray for the light of your glorious presence
as we wait for your appearing;
we pray for the light of your wondrous grace
as we exhaust our coping capacity;
we pray for your gift of newness that
will override our weariness;
we pray that we may see and know and hear and trust
in your good rule.
That we may have energy, courage, and freedom to enact
your rule through the demands of this day.
We submit our day to you and to your rule, with deep joy and high hope.
(by Walter Brueggemann)
As always, The Spirit of Life Community invites you to come and share in the experience of an inclusive Catholic community where every voice is heard, and women and men are unafraid to acknowledge the equality of women and men; and to embrace feminine as well as masculine... and beyond... images of God. As a community, we try wholeheartedly to "be Christ" to one another, to tend to the needs of one another, and to those in need in our world. Together, we celebrate our belief that we are being transformed by God's grace as we gather together in prayer. We warmly invite you to come and gather with us at our Table, and join in our experience of the "kin-dom" of God. We are an inclusive, open, affirming and interactive community, deeply committed to being a people of "justice and joy."
May your walking with and toward our God's light bring you into a deeper experience of Presence,
Find more about past weekly reflections and podcasts in our ARCHIVE PAGE.
