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December 30, 2009

The Light of Epiphany

There’s a certain brilliance in the way Epiphany comes right after the shortest day of the year, and Christmas, just as the days begin to lengthen. The Feast of the Epiphany on January 6 marks the arrival of the 3 Magi in Bethlehem, and the “showing” of Christ to the gentiles. Epiphany asks us, “how can we carry that light into every corner of our everyday world?”

During the season of Epiphany, we remember Christ’s baptism and our own with the celebration of The Baptism of Our Lord. This year at Trinity, we’ll move this Feast to January 17, and celebrate several baptisms. As always, we’ll gather our Sunday School children around the font when the baptisms are performed so that they get to see the Sacrament up close and personal. Baptisms are always joyous occasions to share as a community, and it’s so important for us to “be there” for others entering the community.

What does baptism mean? It’s one of the primary Sacraments, an outward and visible sign of an outpouring of God’s grace. It’s a rite of passage, where the person who’s baptized, or their parents commit to follow Christ. Baptism is the Sacrament that grounds us in God’s communion of Saints; through baptism, we join the Church, which stretches through the ages. You may notice that at every Episcopal Baptism service we stand and reaffirm our own Baptismal Vows in the words of the Baptismal Covenant. As we start 2010 together here at Trinity, I encourage you to read through the Baptismal Covenant on pp. 304-305 of the Book of Common Prayer. The Baptismal Covenant is a uniquely Episcopalian document that emphasizes living as agents of change and justice in the world, “with God’s help.” This is certainly a way to “let our Christ light shine”! Happy Epiphany!

Blessings, Madre Beth+