Epiphany

January 6, 2023

Scripture Reading: Acts 10:34-43
Then Peter began to speak to them: ‘I truly understand that God shows no partiality, but in every nation anyone who fears him and does what is right is acceptable to him. You know the message he sent to the people of Israel, preaching peace by Jesus Christ—he is Lord of all. That message spread throughout Judea, beginning in Galilee after the baptism that John announced: how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power; how he went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with him. We are witnesses to all that he did both in Judea and in Jerusalem. They put him to death by hanging him on a tree; but God raised him on the third day and allowed him to appear, not to all the people but to us who were chosen by God as witnesses, and who ate and drank with him after he rose from the dead. He commanded us to preach to the people and to testify that he is the one ordained by God as judge of the living and the dead. All the prophets testify about him that everyone who believes in him receives forgiveness of sins through his name.’

The Aha! moments in life are awakenings to what was there all along, but we could not comprehend. I have not a clue what Jesus’s followers saw or heard or understood after his death and resurrection. It was even hard for them to explain. The image of the temple curtain being torn opening the Holy of Holies to everyone at the moment of Jesus’s death is a good example.

Then Jesus cried again with a loud voice and breathed his last. At that moment the curtain of the temple was torn in two, from top to bottom. –Matthew 27: 50-51

Paul’s Aha! Moment came on the road to Damascus. John Newton, the author of Amazing Grace who was active in the slave trading business, had his Aha! Moment in a storm at sea when his death seemed imminent. Most Christ-followers probably do not experience their Aha! Moments in events so dramatic movies are made about them. We have small, but meaningful Aha! Moments when our eyes are opened to injustices, and we finally have the guts to say what we experienced was not right and share our concerns with others correcting the actions in whatever way we could including asking our legislators or members of Congress to make it right.

I was involved in a survey of why people did not vote in Oklahoma. One of the results we received was “My polling place is in a church that does not allow people like me in their worship service. Thus, I do not feel welcomed in their building to vote.” I cried when I read that. My church provides voting space for two precincts and serves refreshments to people particularly when the lines are long. I pray that no one thinks they could not worship with us. My Aha! Moment came realizing I needed to work harder to make sure others know we are a welcoming community of faith but also working to assure that everyone knows they can vote by mail and how important voting by mail is.

Prayer: Thank you Lord, for providing us with those Aha! Moments that open our hearts and minds to serving you more nearly. Amen.

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.