New year

New light

New chances

New choices

New songs

New insight

New grace

New life

“Behold, I make all things new.”

Epiphany: The sages follow a bright star - a star! - to worship Jesus. They ask Herod, that fox, where he is to be born. And even wily Herod becomes part of God’s plan by directing them to Bethlehem. When they see that the star has stopped, they are overwhelmed with joy. They see the child with Mary, his mother. They kneel, pay him homage, and offer him their gifts: gold, frankincense and myrrh.

And this Jesus, when a grown man, how does he make this destiny to be king of the Jews manifest? He changes water into wine at a wedding feast. He heals the sick. He casts out demons. He is transfigured before Peter, James, and John. Miraculous, to be able to behold the glory of the Lord in the presence and life of this man, this man who is also the son of God.

So sing “Songs of thankfulness and praise,” hymn 135, during Epiphany, because God is made “manifest in power divine, changing water into wine,” and “manifest in gracious will, ever bringing good from ill.” Even “cross and Easter Day attest God in man made manifest.”