Epiphany - Showing Christ to the World

Thought for Pew Slip - 7th January 2007 – Epiphany (trsfd from 6th Jan)
Readings: Isaiah 60:1-6, Ephesians 3:1-12, Matthew 2:1-12

Today we celebrate the feast of the Epiphany, when Christ is shown to the world. We think especially of the moment when Jesus is shown to the wise men from the East.
I love to imagine that scene in Bethlehem. I imagine the wise men entering the stable and finding themselves in the midst of the holy family, united in mutual love. I imagine that the presence of the baby Jesus filled them with joy and made their hearts burn within them. They understood that they were in the presence of a great king. They knelt, paid homage and gave gifts suitable for a king.
When we gather together in the name of Jesus, then he is present in the midst of us (Matt 18:20). This is especially true when we gather in worship, putting Jesus in the first place and being united in his love, like the holy family. Let us worship like this, obedient to Christ’s command of mutual love (John 13:34, 15:12), so that visitors to our worship will enter into the presence of Christ, just as the wise men did. If we do this then people will recognise and honour the King. We will be making our own little epiphany; showing Christ to the world.