Epiphany

The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen, as it had been told them. Luke 2:20 NRSV

Today is Epiphany, the day we celebrate the wise men and their gifts. But we leave the shepherds and the Christmas story changed people. We return to our “regular” lives but we do so in praise of the awesome works of God that we have heard and seen in our lives. We have been told the story of Christ’s birth and it has moved us. Just as the shepherds go back to life in the fields to guard the sheep they left behind, they do so as changed men. Not because of seeing the angels – although that was so impressive to be terrifying – but because what the angels told them truly happened. We are changed, too, not because of hearing the story or understanding more about the shepherds but because we see that God has entered into our lives just where we are and we can not keep this life-altering event to ourselves.

God, we have not only heard but have seen your great work in the world. We can no longer keep silent. We leave the Christmas season behind changed people who go forth to share your part in our own Christmas story. Amen.

Copyright 2008 Amelia G. Sims