Week of JanUARY 11, 2026

Epiphany: Light in a Time of Darkness
This weekend, our Church celebrates the Feast of Epiphany — the visit of the Magi to the Christ child. These “wise men from the East” traveled great distances in uncertainty, guided only by a star and fueled by faith. They brought their best gifts — gold, frankincense, and myrrh — offering them in worship of the newborn King.

Their journey reminds us that life is full of risk. They took risks carrying precious treasure through unfamiliar lands, uncertain of what they would find. And yet their eyes were fixed on the light that drew them onward.

In our own time, we see risks and treasures of a very different sort.

Across our nation and the world, events are unfolding that weigh heavily on our hearts. In recent days an ICE agent in Minneapolis fatally shot a 37-year-old mother, Renee Nicole Good. Her death has sparked outrage, protest, and deep debate over the use of force and the dignity of every human life.

At the same time, international conflict involving Venezuela has dominated headlines, with U.S. military forces conducting operations that have cost lives and left both nations and families in turmoil. These developments have prompted serious questions about war, peace, sovereignty, and the stewardship of power on the global stage.

It can feel like we are living in a time of fear, division, and conflicting narratives, where each side claims righteousness and each person wonders what is true and just.

In the midst of this, the Feast of Epiphany calls us back to the simple, profound truth of who we follow:

• We follow Jesus Christ, who entered this world not as a conqueror, but as a vulnerable child,
• We follow a Savior who was executed by the state as a criminal, though innocent of all wrongdoing,
• We follow the One who taught us to love our enemies and pray for those who persecute us.

Our culture often promises safety by asserting power — safety that too often undermines the dignity and rights of others. But the Lord calls us to a safer security: the security of love, mercy, and justice rooted in God Himself.

Each of us will stand before God and render an account of our stewardship — how we have used the gifts entrusted to us: our lives, our voices, our influence, our compassion. The Magi brought their best to Christ; will we?
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Let us examine our hearts and ask:

• Are we bringing our best — our gifts — to God?
• Or are we using them to tear down, judge, or harm others?

In the face of uncertainty, let us fix our eyes on the true light that appeared in Bethlehem — the light no darkness can overcome. May we, like the wise men, offer what we have with humility and courage, guided not by fear, but by faith in Christ the Lord.
Peace,
​Rev. Ben