Saturday, January 7, 2012

From darkness to light

Tomorrow is the official beginning of the Epiphany season of the Church year. What does the word "epiphany” mean? An “epiphany” is when something reveals itself, or shows itself. For example, in Barrow, Alaska, after 65 days of darkness, the sun finally reveals its glory for everyone to see. That’s an epiphany.

In the Church year, the Epiphany season is when the Son of God reveals his glory for everyone to see. Everything that you see and hear and sing and pray will serve one purpose, and that is this – to reveal to you, to show you, the glory of your Savior Jesus Christ.

You can sum up the festival of Epiphany with one phrase, and that one phrase is: FROM DARKNESS TO LIGHT. “Arise,” God says to us, “Shine, for your light has come, and the glory of the Lord rises upon you.” The Scriptures pictures you and me and the rest of the world as a group of people living in darkness, people who have been waiting and waiting and waiting for the sun to rise: “See,” God says, “darkness covers the earth and thick darkness is over the peoples.”