You Shall See and Be Radiant

Magic can be fun. I have only been to a couple of professional magician performances. I have seen much more of it on television. The acts can be astounding. My usual thought is, “How did they do that?” I never think there was magic involved, but it’s thrilling that a performer makes a feat look convincingly magical.

We are starting a new year. I have changed out my physical calendar from last year’s to my new 2021 calendar. I know there is no magic in the changing of the year. I like the notion that all can be different, all can be better in a new year. I would love for it to change like magic, but I know it will be up to the people. My part of the improvement will be up to me. As people of faith, we choose to cultivate confidence that God is with us. That presence of the Holy Spirit helps us buckle down and bring about positive change. Christ is a light for us. In seeing the light of Christ, we have a chance to shine.

Tomorrow, on the 2nd Sunday after Christmas, we will take up the spiritual themes of light, including the Epiphany stories: wise astrologers come from the east to Bethlehem to see the new child king. We will hear passages from Psalm 72 and Isaiah 60. Those scriptures call attention to two high times in the land of Judah. One was during the reign of Solomon in the tenth century B.C. and the other Judah’s return from Babylonian exile in the sixth century B.C.  The idea in both cases was the whole world should take notice of the centrality of the holy place Jerusalem and the Temple there.

Psalm 72 refers to how nations would send gifts for the enrichment and embellishment of the land of Judah under Solomon. The king pulled off the completion of the first temple, but it was destroyed centuries later as some of Judah’s people were carried off to Babylon. Not until the return of the captives was the second temple built. The prophet Isaiah speaks of gold and frankincense and flocks that would be brought from other lands to enable the resumption of religious life in Jerusalem. That temple was quite splendid in the time of Christ’s life. Jesus in his teaching pointed to it, then to himself as the Temple that would be destroyed and which he would rebuild in three days, referring to his death and resurrection. Before, at his birth, sojourning sages brought gold, frankincense, and myrrh, offering them to the baby, Jesus. These may be symbols of his power as king of all, his holiness as ultimate high priest, and his death’s special redemptive power. The common theme is, all the world should look up and see.

Solomon’s reign was grand indeed, but it was temporary. The return of the Jews to Zion after the exile was amazing and jubilant, but Jerusalem fell again to Greek and then Roman powers. Jesus’s beginnings were quiet, and hidden—noticed by a very few, but his light and truth are still changing lives and making the world a different place.

The first verse of Isaiah 60 is, “Arise, shine; for your light has come.” If we take that to heart as Christians, we see that since Christ our Light has come, we are called to shine. We see the truth of verses four and five to realize what to do, “Lift up your eyes and look around…Then you shall see and be radiant; your heart shall thrill and rejoice.” What would it take to realize Jesus is the King and Savior? It took the word of angels for Mary and Joseph, and later, for the shepherds. It took an odd and magnificent star for sages from far off nations. Many in the world, plenty in our secular society, have not realized. Something in your life has caused you to look up, to know Jesus is the Light of the world. It causes you to shine with that light.

We will not depend on the magic to make 2021 wonderfully different. Each of us will do what we can and be who we can in Christ to make a difference. Christ shines—we notice—then we shine. With our efforts and support, our worshiping family will be strong in 2021. Your own family and our human family of neighbors will be more sound and secure, not by any magic of the calendar, but by your actions and trust in God.

I love magic as entertainment, but the improvements in 2021 over last year will be due to other factors. Certainly, it will be due to our efforts, together. Our faith teaches you it is up to you, not on your own, but in the Spirit of Christ. Arise, shine; your Light has come. Raise your eyes all around—you shall see and gleam, and your heart shall throb and swell with rejoicing.