epiphany

The magi came from the East led by a star to see a child a king whose birth was foretold. The king the Romans gave the Jews plotted to kill the child with the help of the wise dreamers the magicians.  The found him and gave him gifts of prophetic kingship. Then they left without giving Herod the help he sought. He killed many children in an unsuccessful attempt to get the one who threatened his kingship.

We look about us at the political lies and violence and think it means much more than it possibly can. The Herods, the Hitlers, the shadow behind every throne all pass away before the light promised by this ordinary baby, his teen-aged unwed mother, and his probably perplexed but trusting father who was not his father according to the angel who warned him against Herod. He trusted the angel and took the child and his mother to safety

Epiphany. The sight of God in the small and unexpected.  Turn off the TV and the internet and forget the big for a moment. Go out and help a child learn to read even though the big tells you their will be no money to feed him and no work for him to do. Stop drinking just for today even though you are sure you can't. Your inability, your lack of power is the opening through which the power of God can enter the world you have made for yourself and lead you into a world that is unimaginably beautiful because it is real.

I walk down the apartment hallway on the way to the bathroom and fall to my knees because that baby that moment is now. I pray from my freedom because God is here to listen. What Herod built for himself is gone and no one cares anymore because however much blood he spilt he could not make it real. This is real. This step, this spot on the ground, this person in front of you right now even though you have nothing for him and he has nothing for you. He is here because he is here for your help. Trust that you will know which way the help must go after you find out.