Epiphany

February 21, 2020

Scripture Reading:
2 Peter 1:16-21

So we have the prophetic message more fully confirmed. You will do well to be attentive to this as to a lamp shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts. First of all you must understand this, that no prophecy of scripture is a matter of one’s own interpretation, because no prophecy ever came by human will, but men and women moved by the Holy Spirit spoke from God. –2 Peter 1:19-21

For most of us prophets are people identified as prophets-in-hindsight and we do learn from those ancient prophets like Isaiah and Jerimiah. Our scripture today is challenging us to look for the prophets about us and heed their messages, be attentive to [prophetic message] as to a lamp shining in a dark place Some of the lights shining in dark paces for me are:

• Reverend Doctor William J. Barber, II founder of Repairers of the Breach  see at https://www.breachrepairers.org/ and  champion of the Poor People’s Campaign: A National Call for Moral Revival  see at https://disciples.org/resources/justice/poor-peoples-campaign/
• Reverend Jim Wallis founder and editor of Sojourners magazine and as the founder of the Washington, D.C.-based Christian community see at https://sojo.net/magazine/current
• Walter Brueggemann, Old Testament scholar and theologian who writes extensively on justice issues see information about his works at https://www.walterbrueggemann.com/
• N. T. Wright, a British New Testament scholar, Pauline theologian and Anglican bishop, whose writing indeed shine light on the Kingdom of God and our place in it. See information about his works at https://ntwrightonline.org/

Whom do you see as a lamp shining in a dark place? Are we each being a lamp shining in a dark place for others?

Prayer: God of Grace, help us to reflect your love and the future you desire for our world in our every day lives. 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.