The Epiphany season of the Church Calendar opens and closes with mystical mountaintop moments. The season began with a figurative mountaintop moment, celebrating the arrival of magi coming to bow down and worship the Christ Child. And now we conclude the season up on a literal mountaintop with the story we call “the transfiguration”. First, […]
Tag: Epiphany
On Proclaiming Good News
During this period of the Church Calendar known as Epiphany or the “the time Epiphany”, we look back on the “firsts” of Jesus’ ministry. Recently in this series of reflections, we have touched on how Jesus’ mission is introduced and how the first disciples were called. It is appropriate for us to also look at […]
On Being Called By God
Similar to how each of the four gospels differ regarding Jesus’ first acts of ministry (as explored in the last reflection), the formation stories regarding the first disciples also varies. There is much to learn from this and far more to discover than this one short reflection could possibly exhaust. Yet, let’s explore a few […]
On First Impressions
As much as the season of Epiphany is a time for discovering new realities about God in Christ, it is also a time for returning to the basics of the Gospel message. Many of the liturgical readings for this time of the year go back to the beginning of Jesus’ ministry and each gospel narrative […]
On Spiritual Health
There seems to be growing appreciation for holistic wellness, understanding that one’s individual health is more than just physical realities. There is more realization that it is equally important for us to be healthy mentally, emotionally, and spiritually. The Church Calendar and its seasons can help us have a balanced spiritual diet. Over the course […]
On Recentering
It can perhaps seem a bit out-of-touch to be writing this series on the Church Calendar when there may be more important topics to discuss in our current times. Yet, one of the epiphanies of this Epiphany season might just be how much the Church Lectionary can help us understand the essentials of the Gospel, […]
On Where to Start
When the rush of Christmas wears off and the realities of the world begin to wear us down again, the Epiphany season of the Church Calendar invites us to revisit the beginning of our faith journey by recalling the significance of baptism. Regardless of denominational differences regarding baptism practices, the meaning of baptism itself does […]
On the Unexpected
It doesn’t take long for us to see that the expectations we have for the Christ Child might not match the plans of God. The Epiphany season of the Church Calendar is here to disrupt our expectations of Jesus. After Advent and Christmas, Epiphany rolls on in with equal amounts of celebration and confusion. Following […]
On Epiphanies
Epiphanies tend to come in waves. That is to say, one epiphany can lead to a second. Or, a singular epiphany can morph over time into an even greater one. The same is true for the Church’s Epiphany season that follows Christmas, during which there is much to discover. Epiphany kicks off with the celebration […]
Relevant Reformation 