Of Star Dust & Water: Epiphany & Baptism

This morning we celebrate The Feast of The Epiphany. 
 
We happen to be celebrating The Epiphany on the Sunday that is also The Baptism of the Lord: when we remember the baptism of Jesus by water and the Holy Spirit in the river Jorden.
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This morning we mingle holy water and stardust.

Baptism and Epiphany.
 
On this Sunday morning, we listen to the story of the Magi and we will renew our own baptismal covenant. A covenant that expresses our commitment to live as followers of Jesus.
 
The Magi found Jesus by following a star.
 
We find Jesus through the story and song; ritual and practice; prayers and teachings of the Christian community. 

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Baptism and Epiphany.
 
Water and Light.
 
Holy Spirit and Sacred Night.
 
Chrism Oil and Star Dust
 
Mingling. One with the other. 
 
Starlight reflecting off the water—darkness illuminated. 
 
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The Baptism of our Lord happens in the season of Epiphany.
 
and we’ll stay in the season of Epiphany until Shrove Tuesday, the Tuesday before Ash Wednesday—the beginning of Lent---40 days to prepare for the Mystery of Easter. 
 
But, today, and for the next 52 days—we remain in a season—a whole season!-- of Epiphany.
 
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Epiphany comes from the Greek word that means “reveal” and The Epiphany refers to the revelation of Jesus as The Christ to the gentiles, specifically to the Wise Men. 
 
But Epiphany is not meant just for the wise men. Epiphany was not just a long time ago. The revelation of Christ is not a singular event.
 
Christ is always making Himself known in new and unexpected ways to those who seek Him.
 
Epiphany is the revelation of Jesus as Christ, as the Incarnation of God—to whoever is doing the seeking—whenever and wherever and however they are doing the seeking.
 
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Maybe, then, we can imagine this season of Epiphany like stargazing--
 
Eyes open, looking, waiting, watching, finding--
 
The divine dancing through the night sky
 
Like a shooting star
 
Or a meteor shower
 
Holy Light drawn in celestial constellations 
 
We’re looking.
 
“Where are you, God—where are you” we ask.
 
“Arise, Shine,” replies the Prophet Isaiah, “Life up your eyes and look around.”
 
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And, so, I wonder, Church of The Transfiguration, where do we expect to find Jesus and—maybe even more importantly--where’s the last place on earth we would ever expect Jesus to be found? 
 
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This season of Epiphany—of discovering Jesus is for all of us. 
 
“Lift up your eyes and look around,” Isaiah says to us this morning.
 
Each of us is invited to lift up our eyes and look around
 
Each of us is invited to discover the Holy in our lives and in our world.
 
God is everywhere, waiting to be found.

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I can only speak for myself and say that for me, this is a very confusing time. 
 
There is more uncertainty in our nation and in our world than I am comfortable with--
 
“Where is God in any of this,” I wonder.
 
“Arise, Shine…Lift Up Your Eyes and Look Around,” I hear in response.
 
God is everywhere waiting to be found. 
 
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And I also know—from being a human and a mother and a neighbor and a friend and a priest—that people suffer. We all suffer—each in our own way—but we all suffer. 
 
There is loss and insecurity and fear and worry and unplanned, upending transition in all of our lives.
 
Where is God in any of this we might ask.
 
“Arise, Shine…lift up your eyes and look around,” Isaiah urges. 
 
God is everywhere waiting to be found.
 
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I also know this—that even in the midst of our suffering we can be joyful. 
 
Even as we are deeply troubled, we can look up to the night sky and stargaze. And even as grief accompanies us, we can be filled with wonder, like the Magi.
 
It is, what Dorothy Day calls the “Duty of Delight.” 
 
What Victor Frankel calls “Tragic Optimism.”[1]
 
And it is the way to Epiphany. It is the way to Christ.
 
And it is the way OF Christ: from death to life. 
 
Out of darkness and into light.
 
Weeping may stay the night but joy comes in the morning[2].
 
Not just once and for all at the end of our lives.
 
But here and now: over and over and over again as we travel through this life. 

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Baptism and Epiphany.
 
Water and Light.
 
The Light is made known in the Darkness.
 
A path is made straight in the wilderness.
 
For those who seek Him, Christ will be revealed. 
 
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The Christ who was coming at Christmas, still is coming in this season of Epiphany, revealed to us in new places and in new ways.
 
And I wonder, are we curious enough to seek out Christ? 
 
Are we vulnerable enough to ask, “Where is God in all of this?” 
 
Are we brave enough to “lift up our eyes and look around.”
 
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My brothers and sisters in Christ—I wonder, how will Christ be revealed to you in this season of Epiphany? 
 
If you seek comfort, may Christ be known to you as the Holy Comforter. 
 
If you seek peace, may Christ be known to you as the Prince of Peace. 
 
If you seek love, may Christ be known to you as Love made Flesh. 
 
If you seek clarity of purpose, may Christ be known to you as Holy Wisdom. 
 
May this season of Epiphany be for all of us a holy and revelatory season—and may we find what we are looking for—for God is everywhere, waiting to be found.
 
“Arise, for your light has come—Lift up your eyes and look around.”

Anne K. Ellsworth
Januay 15, 2017
Epiphany 1
The Feast of The Epiphany
Isaiah 60:1-6
Psalm 72:1-7,10-14
Ephesians 3:1-12
Matthew 2:1-12

[1] https://www.bbc.com/worklife/article/20210302-tragic-optimism-the-antidote-to-toxic-positivity
[2] Psalm 30