Words of Light and Hope from Helena Crockford, LLM

Words of Light and Hope for 8 th January 2023 – Epiphany
Helena Crockford LLM

January 6th was the Feast of The Epiphany, celebrating when the Magi arrived to honour the baby Jesus. The bible does not say, but it is traditionally considered that there were three Magi, or Wise Men. However, it does say that they brought three gifts – gold, frankincense, and myrrh.

Gold – a symbol of royalty, used by the nobility – was to honour Jesus as King. It represents the virtue of charity.

Frankincense – a symbol of worship, used in religious practice – honoured Jesus as God. It represents the virtue of prayer.

Myrrh – a symbol of death, used in burial – honoured Jesus as Man. It represents the virtue of sacrifice.

“Epiphany” by Walter Brueggemann (b. 1933)

On Epiphany day,

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,
brutality,
violence,
loss —

a dozen alienations that we cannot manage.
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.