Sunday, Jan. 4th, 2026. Mark Gates
“Glowing Radiance and Light”. Our first reading from Isaiah 60:1-6 describes Jerusalem as radiant, exciting, and a centerpiece of the world. She is to come out of the darkness not only for her own benefit but also because all nations will need her and want to travel to be a part of the Gleaming Nation!! The first two lines say it all: “Rise up in splendor Jerusalem!! Your light has come, the glory of the Lord shines upon you.” Wouldn’t this be wonderful for us as well. To know that God loves us, not in an abstract way, But US, intimately and personally!! Come to us Lord Jesus!
When we practice our Christian faith and share our personal faith life experiences, people should be drawn to us & our light. Maybe not caravans of dromedaries (camels) 🙂 🙂 but ‘our light’. Remember the song “Shine Jesus, Shine”, God the Blessed Trinity is LIGHT. Light dispels the darkness and attracts folks unto it.
St. Paul writing to the Ephesians 3:2-6 begins with a bit of a proclamation. “You have heard of the stewardship of God’s grace that was given to me for your benefit.” The light of God, the light of Jesus the Christ, RUAH, the Holy Spirit of power and Flame is alive and well in the lives of these first century believers. The light of God is being embraced by these first Christians who previously had worshipped in drudgery and apathy. Wow, talk about a complete 180* degree turn around.
God is expanding the number of recipients of the Holy Spirit, revelations and enlightenment. Instead of appearing to one prophet from time to time, now there are the 12 Apostles, hundreds of disciples and finally Paul, formerly a Christian murderer named Saul. John, the beloved, will write extensively about the light of Christ. He’ll write his own Gospel, His letters and then write ‘Revelations’, a book of Divine biography and intent.
Our gospel today, Matt 2:1-12, is that wonderful, familiar account of the visitation of the Magi. I would like to set aside the bitterness of Herod for a moment. to me Herod’s involvement in this branch of the story only helps to verify the authenticity of the birth and life of Jesus. These are not fairy tales as John C. explained last Saturday. There is no way Herod or anyone else would slaughter every Jewish male child up to 2 yrs. old, just to create a travesty, a lie, at which Herod himself played the leading role. Jesus is real… more so today!!
So, the Magi arrive in the region of Galilea. They pay the usual ‘professional courtesy’ and visit Herod to let him know that they mean him no harm. They are merely on a monumental astronomy science project. **The Magi are led by a star, light. They are led to a cave in Betlehem where the Christ-child is Light! The light for all nations, all peoples, and for all times.
The Magi are very learned scholarly men. They possibly had enormous wealth. In their own countries, I’m sure everyone knew who they were and honored them accordingly. They sought out this poor babe in order to bow down in homage and offer expensive gifts. Then after a dream, they leave. Oh, how their hearts must have been burning as they discussed the babe Jesus. The love welling up inside them and yet also unspeakable excitement for having achieved their quest. They also knew that this tiny baby would completely change the world. ***For all of my readers, Thank You, thank you for a wonderful 2025. I hope to serve you more completely in 2026. Shalom, may all of God’s Love and Joy be yours, Mark & Mrs. BLU
