Welcome! Our journey through Advent and the Twelve Days of Christmas has come to a close. Today, we celebrate the Feast of Epiphany. Once again, we invite you to use this approach, which works well for individuals and groups of all ages.
Light a candle. Pause to remember the presence of God filling you with Light and Love.
Pray this Opening Prayer:
Radiant Creator, awaken me to your presence.
Jesus, Light of all Lights, kindle love in my heart.
Spirit of Illumination, guide my path today.
Epiphany Reflection for 2022:
In the time of King Herod, after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea, wise men from the East came to Jerusalem, asking, “Where is the child who has been born king of the Jews? For we observed his star at its rising, and have come to pay him homage.” When King Herod heard this, he was frightened, and all Jerusalem with him; and calling together all the chief priests and scribes of the people, he inquired of them where the Messiah was to be born. They told him, “In Bethlehem of Judea; for so it has been written by the prophet:
‘And you, Bethlehem,
in the land of Judah, are by no means
least among the rulers of Judah;
for from you shall come a ruler
who is to shepherd my people Israel.’”
Then Herod secretly called for the wise men and learned from them the exact time when the star had appeared. Then he sent them to Bethlehem, saying, “Go and search diligently for the child; and when you have found him, bring me word so that I may also go and pay him homage.” When they had heard the king, they set out; and there, ahead of them, went the star that they had seen at its rising, until it stopped over the place where the child was. When they saw that the star had stopped, they were overwhelmed with joy. On entering the house, they saw the child with Mary his mother; and they knelt down and paid him homage. Then, opening their treasure chests, they offered him gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh. And having been warned in a dream not to return to Herod, they left for their own country by another road. (Matthew 2:7–12)
I on thy path, O God.
Thou God in my steps.
Bless me, O God,
The earth beneath my foot,
Bless me, O God, The path whereon I go. (Carmina Gadelica)
Happy Feast of Epiphany!
During this adventure of the Twelve Days of Christmas we have discovered that “Christmas is not not just a long season of shopping followed by one day of partying; it is twelve days of adventure that beckons us to a lifetime of incarnational living. The Twelve Days now give way to a 2022 of spiritual adventure and awakening.
Thought for Today: Christmas is a never-ending story. Our “end” of Christmas marks the beginning of Epiphany, the celebration of God’s revelations of wisdom, freedom, beauty and joy, which are promised to you in 2022. The biblical story of Christmas concludes with the magi finding the Christ Child, giving gifts and going home by another road.
Jan Richardson describes the spiritual life cycle of seeking, finding, giving thanks, and returning home by another road in her blessing-poem, For Those Who Have Far to Travel. I will be meditating on Jan’s poem for the the entire of 2022.
If you could see
the journey whole,
you might never undertake it,
might never dare
the first step
that propels you
from the place
you have known
toward the place
you know not.
Call it
one of the mercies
of the road:
that we see it
only by stages
as it opens
before us,
as it comes into
our keeping,
step by
single step.
There is nothing
for it
but to go,
and by our going
take the vows
the pilgrim takes:
to be faithful to
the next step;
to rely on more
than the map;
to heed the signposts
of intuition and dream;
to follow the star
that only you
will recognize;
to keep an open eye
for the wonders that
attend the path;
to press on
beyond distractions,
beyond fatigue,
beyond what would
tempt you
from the way.
There are vows
that only you
will know:
the secret promises
for your particular path
and the new ones
you will need to make
when the road
is revealed
by turns
you could not
have foreseen.
Keep them, break them,
make them again;
each promise becomes
part of the path,
each choice creates
the road
that will take you
to the place
where at last
you will kneel
To offer the gift
most needed–
the gift that only you can give–
Before turning to go
home by another way.
___
Set your intention for the day. Say: Today I will open my heart and mind to the vision quest of Christmas– my spiritual adventure of 2022.
Prayer for Epiphany:
Be Thou my vision, or Lord of my heart;
Naught be all else to me, save that Thou art.
Thou my best thought by day or by night,
Waking or sleeping, Thy presence my light.
Together on the Journey of 2022,
Katie Martinez
P.S. The Journey of Lent begins Wednesday, March 2, 2022. Once we choose the devotional, the Journey Team will make an announcement via The FEED, the weekend print program and this email/text group.
