January 6, 2021

Blessed Epiphany!

Today we celebrate Epiphany. We celebrate the wise men from the East who came to worship Jesus, the Christ. It is in this event that we see Jesus as having come as a light for all people of the world. It is in Jesus that light has come.

When they saw the star, they rejoiced exceedingly with great joy- Matthew 2:10

They, the wise men from the East, rejoiced because God had come and made his dwelling among us. They celebrated the Light of the World shining into the darkness of life.

As Christians we know the darkness of this world to be an expression of evil. Violence in its many forms reveals the evil of this world once again. Violence does not keep with the will or the ways of the Lord. Rather, it creates chaos as a clear outpouring of evil, which we, as followers of the Prince of Peace, cannot ignore, tolerate nor support.

Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. Resist him, firm in your faith - 1 Peter 5:8-9a

Christ comes to dispel the darkness, even the evil of this day. Jesus brings His Gospel, His grace, His love, and His peace to us and to this world. Jesus is our hope!

As a nation we must find ways to communicate without violence. We must find ways to sit down with people of differing and contrary views to listen and love our neighbors. Our Lord encourages us to listen in love.

Know this, my beloved brothers: let every person be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger; for the anger of man does not produce the righteousness of God. – James 1:19-20

The events in the nation’s capital today show the darkness of this world remains. These events highlight once again the divisions we face in this country. I ask you to join me in standing against violence in the many forms it takes and praying for peace for our nation. May our God use his Church as an instrument of that peace.

Heavenly Father, Light of the World, we pray for our nation. Lord we know we live amid the darkness of this fallen world. We experience fear, anxiety, frustration, division and strife in our lives. The events of this day expose the deep divide in this country. Lord we pray for the healing of our nation. We pray for patience and understanding. Father only the light of your love can dispel the darkness of this world. Help us to be open to conversation that will lead to understanding in this hour of need. May we as part of your church help to bring peace to our land. May the peace and love of Jesus move in and through us.

I will be adding the Prayer of St. Francis of Assisi as part of my daily prayers in the days ahead.

Lord, make me an instrument of your peace;

where there is hatred, let me sow love;

when there is injury, pardon;

where there is doubt, faith;

where there is despair, hope;

where there is darkness, light;

and where there is sadness, joy.

Grant that I may not so much seek

to be consoled as to console;

to be understood, as to understand,

to be loved as to love;

for it is in giving that we receive,

it is in pardoning that we are pardoned,

and it is in dying [to ourselves] that we are born to eternal life.

May the Lord bless and keep you in His peace.

Rev. Derek G. Lecakes

President/Bishop of the Atlantic District