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Isaiah 60:1-2
January 5, 2024 by Rebecca Littlejohn
DEVOTIONAL MESSAGE
Isaiah 60:1-2 – Arise, shine; for your light has come, and the glory of the Lord has risen upon you. For darkness shall cover the earth, and thick darkness the peoples; but the Lord will arise upon you, and his glory will appear over you. (NRSV)
Tomorrow is Epiphany, which means today is officially the twelfth and last day of Christmastide. Epiphany is usually associated with the Magi (or “Three Kings,” though scripture tells us neither how many there were or that they were royal) who came to visit the Christ Child, according to Matthew’s gospel. Because it’s associated with these Wise Men, Epiphany is also associated with the star that guided them from the East to Judea and eventually to Bethlehem.
The light of the star reminds us of the other meaning of epiphany, which is “revelation.” It reminds us that in Jesus, God’s love for us was revealed in a way it never had been before. When light is shined into the darkness, it shows us things we hadn’t seen before. The prayer of Epiphany is that it will help us see God’s love in new ways. It might even send our lives in new directions, like the Magi who refused to participate Herod’s deadly scheming and went home by a different road.
This chapter from Isaiah is often used at Epiphany, both because of the references to light at the beginning, but also because camels and gold and frankincense come up a few verses later. What I love about these opening lines is that Isaiah assumes that there is an appropriate response to having the glory of God shine upon us: we are to Arise and Shine!
With the holiday bustle finally receding and the pressure of New Year’s resolutions, we may feel like we’re exhausted before the year has even really gotten started. But God’s love is being revealed in our midst, and we’re being invited to reflect that Light into the world. Perhaps that means standing up for something. Perhaps that means changing direction in ways that bring life and comfort to others. Perhaps it just means opening our eyes in the dark and seeking out the glimmers of starlight that can revive our hope. Happy Epiphany!