3rd Sunday of Epiphany : January 26th

PRAYER
We are still the people walking.
We are still people in the dark,
and the darkness looms large around us,
beset as we are by fear,
anxiety,
self-protection,
isolation,
violence,
loss—
a dozen alienations that we cannot manage on our own.

We are — we could be — people of your light.
So we pray for the light of your glorious presence
as we wait for your appearing;
we pray for the light of your wondrous grace
as we exhaust our coping capacity;
we pray for your gift of newness that
will override our weariness;
we pray that we may see and know and hear and trust
in your good rule.

That we may have energy, courage, and freedom to enact
your rule through the demands of this day.
We submit our day to you and to your rule,
with deep joy and high hope. Amen.
~an Epiphany prayer by Walter Brueggemann

SCRIPTURE
Psalm 36:5-10

REFLECTION AND DISCUSSION
The story of the magi is a story of pilgrimage. It is about being willing to leave that which is familiar in order to arrive at our deeper spiritual home. It is about seeking something we don’t fully understand until we stumble upon it where we least expect it.
~Ruth Haley Barton

• In our human pilgrimage, God is affirming our full human experience with the light of his presence. Are there ways you can see and experience God’s light surrounding you these days and you give thanks for it? Take some time and share together as a practice of mindfulness and gratitude.
• The earlier words of Psalm 36 address the wicked who flatter themselves too much to both detect and hate their own sin. Language of detecting and hating sin isn’t exactly popular among the world and somewhat religious deconstructing classes. And yet, leaving home to discover our deeper spiritual home means turning from our pride, judgmental stances, and attempts at avoidance, control and/or domination in order to truly love and trust God so to love one another and our neighbors in gentle and honoring ways. Share a way you are being called at this time in your life to leave pride, avoidance, judgmental stances, control, and/or domination so to truly honor and love.
• What does the presence and light of Christ say specifically to us about loving and honoring one another and neighbors in the midst of a world filled with pride, avoidance, judgment and power struggles?