Sisters and Brothers in Christ

There is an old Zen story that goes

Ex-Emperor: Gudo, what happens to the man of enlightenment and the man of illusion after death?

Gudo: How should I know, sir?

Ex-Emperor: Why, because you're the master!

Gudo: Yes, sir, but not a dead one!

The message I get from Epiphany is that I don't have to die to be enlightened or to know God. Epiphany means manifestation of the Divine. In our Christian tradition that, of course, points to the birth of Jesus and is signified by the arrival of the Magi bearing gifts. We Christians believe that God was made manifest in another human being, Jesus. We further understand that the manifestation that occurred in Jesus spread to those who were and are touched by his example and words. The manifestation of God has a cascading effect upon creation. The Incarnation unfolds like a flower and stretches to embrace all things and all people. So what star shall we follow and what gifts shall you and I bring to the One who is manifested in our midst? Our Baptismal Covenant offers an answer to these questions. What star? "Will you seek and serve Christ in all persons loving your neighbor as yourself?" The light of the star is the Light of Christ that is at home in all human beings. Simply in seeking that Light is God made manifest. What gifts to bring? "Will you strive for peace and justice and respect the dignity of every human being?" The gifts we lay at the feet of the manifested One are humility, peacefulness, compassion, respect, and the delight of love. I see God made manifest when we gather at the Altar, when I saw our children retell the story of Christmas in the pageant, when I saw people laying gifts underneath the Advent tree and then delivering them, when I saw in your eyes the One who is made manifest. I didn't have to die to see it, I only had to be awake and alive.

Joel t