Jesus is our Light

Dear friends on the journey,

I have always loved maps, especially on road trips. Give me a Thomas Guide or AAA TripTik and I’ll be a happy navigator. Cell phone apps work too but greater satisfaction comes when I can see the bigger picture, generally provided by a paper map. Before I head out to an unfamiliar destination, you can bet I’ve poured over Google Maps, noted landmarks and, for the most part, memorized the general route. So, I have to say, simply following the light of a star in the sky to find a destination would cause me great anxiety.


Yet that is exactly what the three magi did in Matthew’s Gospel proclaimed today, the Feast of the Epiphany. This feast commemorates the journey of the wise men from the east seeking the Christ child. Their journey began with a star shining brightly in the sky, beckoning them to action. Not knowing exactly where or to what it would lead, they embarked on an incredible journey with tremendous courage and trust. Though they were bringing gifts, the magi had no idea that they were to meet the greatest gift of all.


Epiphany means to show, to reveal or to make known. Today’s feast is about God fully, openly and clearly revealing Jesus to the whole world, to all nations and all peoples for all time. This story of the wise men is really a story of spiritual pilgrimage. It’s our story too. We are being invited to step with courage and trust to step out of our familiar into the unknown, following the light of the start to the Light, the incarnate Jesus, in our every day, and to be transformed by him.


Today is also covenant day. On behalf of the pastoring team, I ask you to take a covenant home and prayerfully consider all the promises. Side one holds the promises made by the pastoral team to you and the second side outlines new promises for you, individually and/or as a family, to commit to this year. Allow these suggestions to be your epiphany, to be the guiding light of your spiritual journey in 2025. Then, like the magi, return it as a gift to Jesus to the altar next week. Be sure to keep a copy on your refrigerator and review each week. 

Just imagine how our parish will grow together, stronger, and closer in our domestic churches and a parish family, as we strive to encounter Jesus and be his disciples.


Siempre Adelante,
​

Teresa Runyon
Pastoral Associate 

​

---