Light of the World

“Arise, shine; for your light has come, and the glory of the LORD has risen upon you. For darkness shall cover the earth, and thick darkness the peoples; but the LORD will arise upon you, and the glory of the LORD will appear over you. Nations shall come to your light, and kings to the brightness of your dawn. Lift up your eyes and look around; they all gather together, they come to you; your sons shall come from far away, and your daughters shall be carried on their nurses' arms. Then you shall see and be radiant; your heart shall thrill and rejoice, because the abundance of the sea shall be brought to you, the wealth of the nations shall come to you”.

Isaiah 60:1-5

 The Epiphany of our Lord: the revelation of Christ to the world! Can we understand the full import and impact of this cosmic, magnificent gift of God? The prophet surely paints us a rich picture. Notice the imperatives, the invitations to be involved: arise, shine, lift up your eyes, look around. Notice even more the promises: there are ten uses of will and shall and more can be inferred. This light, the glory of the Lord, will bring at least ten significant changes to the lives of the people of Zion: new life to their nation, relationships, economy, hearts, and faith. Finally, notice the already and the not yet, that the promises follow the prophet’s declaration in the first verse of an event that has already happened: “ your light has come, and the glory of the Lord has risen upon you.”

May you, dear people of Grace, see and be radiant; may you experience the abundance God wishes for you; may your heart thrill and rejoice as Christ, the glory of the Lord, rises upon you and appears over you this new year and forevermore.

Pastor Robin