Epiphany Week Two: Enlightened
/Thoughts on the second week of Epiphany from Leslie Medlin
“Epiphany comes from the Greek verb that means ‘to cause to appear’ or ‘to bring to light.’ The word can refer to the manifestation of a deity or to an experience of sudden insight or revelation…so Epiphany is literally a season of enlightenment.”
During week two of Epiphany, the scripture readings are typically focused on the Baptism of Jesus, when he was finally revealed as God's son and thus his ministry began. We read those passages, and, if we will allow them to be absorbed into our spirits in a fresh way, we are enlightened to who He is! And who He is changes where we are even now — in this moment, in this week you find yourself, however right or random it feels. Then as we are changed, we bear witness to what we have seen, learned, and experienced. Gross puts it this way,
“Herein lies a spiritual paradox: not only do we say what we see, we also see as we say. Epiphany, then, is a time to both inhabit the story and to tell the story, for in the telling itself, we are further enlightened.”
If you feel led, take some time this week and read Mark's account of Jesus' baptism — in chapter 1. Then spend time asking God to bring these events to life inside you again. You might ask yourself these two things as you process: 1) How am I moved to respond to him? 2) How can we follow John’s example and bear witness to what we’ve seen?
This week, I've personally been asking God to change my perspective on my own lack — to help take my weaknesses and not let them sink me into the depths of self-judgement and condemnation, but rather embrace them as a vehicle to unveil His strength as my "boat paddles” wading through the winding waters of life. Reading Jesus' baptism story has reminded me that as partakers of Jesus' divine nature, we, too, are beloved, approved, and empowered by the Father!
Join me in this closing Epiphany prayer over us all. And I’m believing that as we pray it will truly enlighten and expand our hearts and perspectives:
Gracious Father, thank you for the fulfilled promise of your Son and the assurance of your Spirit that is with me, really with me. Thank you for embracing me as Your beloved son and daughter, and for Your grace that approves me and empowers me to walk forward into this year and your will. Amen.