Epiphany

January 8, 2021

Scripture Reading: Acts 19:1-7
While Apollos was in Corinth, Paul passed through the inland regions and came to Ephesus, where he found some disciples. He said to them, ‘Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you became believers?’ They replied, ‘No, we have not even heard that there is a Holy Spirit.’ Then he said, ‘Into what then were you baptized?’ They answered, ‘Into John’s baptism.’ Paul said, ‘John baptized with the baptism of repentance, telling the people to believe in the one who was to come after him, that is, in Jesus.’ On hearing this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. When Paul had laid his hands on them, the Holy Spirit came upon them, and they spoke in tongues and prophesied— altogether there were about twelve of them.

Who taught Paul about Jesus? How much of what Paul first picked up about Jesus was the hearsay around the temple when Saul/Paul as a youth studied under Gamliel. Saul/Paul was a Pharisee and probably received their viewpoint about Jesus. But where did he learn details like how John baptized? Did Ananias* share stories of Jesus’ ministry with Saul/Paul as he recovered from his experience on the road to Damascus?

How much of what we know about God is colored by the source of information we receive? Because of divisions among faith-based groups in our world today, I have felt the need to review my theology. N. T. Wright’s work on Worldviews has been most helpful to me. Studying the Gospels to ascertain how those closest to Jesus described his teachings and his actions caused me to reassess my way of being. During the past two years, I have invested time and energy in anti-racism work and discovered how important it is to attempt to see the world from the eyes of people whose life experiences have been totally different from mine.

As we turn the page on 2020 and move forward into 2021, I invite all to join me in searching for the source of our faith knowledge and discerning if what we take for granted in our belief systems stands the test of God’s love for all.

Prayer:
Open my eyes, that I may see
Glimpses of truth Thou hast for me;
Place in my hands the wonderful key
That shall unclasp and set me free.

Refrain 1:
Silently now I wait for Thee,
Ready my God, Thy will to see,
Open my eyes, illumine me,
Spirit divine!** Amen

*The Christ-follower who took Saul in after his encounter with Christ on the road to Damascus.

**First verse and refrain of Open My Eyes, That I May See by Clara H. Scott. See at https://library.timelesstruths.org/music/Open_My_Eyes_That_I_May_See/

All scriptures are quoted from the New Revised Standard Version Bible: Anglicized Edition, copyright 1989, 1995, Division of Christian Education of the National Council of Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights are reserved.