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Sibling in Christ,
Is it time to lighten up?
This time of year can feel especially heavy. The days are still short, the nights long, and even our small hopes for more daylight get pinned on whether a groundhog sees its shadow. Add a quick glance at the news, and it can seem as though darkness—literal and figurative—has the upper hand. If there were ever a season that needs more light, this is it.
That is precisely where Epiphany meets us. In the middle of winter’s gloom, God does not deny the darkness—but sends light straight into it. And not just any light. God sends us.
Through the prophet Isaiah, God calls out empty religiosity and replaces it with a life-giving mission: feed the hungry, care for the homeless, clothe the naked, loosen the bonds that weigh people down. Then comes the promise: “Your light shall break forth like the dawn.” Light is not something we wait for. It is something God releases into the world through acts of mercy and justice.
Paul echoes this in his letter to the Corinthians. He reminds them that God’s wisdom does not come through impressive words or human cleverness, but through the Spirit revealing what no eye has seen and no ear has heard. God is at work in ways deeper and brighter than we can imagine—often hidden, often quiet, but always unfolding.
And then Jesus says it plainly: “You are the light of the world.” Not “you will be someday,” and not “try harder to shine.” You are. Like salt that brings out flavor and light that cannot help but shine, our lives are meant to make God’s goodness visible. When we live faithfully, when we love generously, when we act with courage and compassion, light scatters darkness.
So yes—this season may feel dreary. But Epiphany reminds us that the light is already here. Created in God’s image, the spark of the divine lives within us. God’s light shines through us as we live out God’s mission in ordinary, faithful ways each day.
As Epiphany continues, may we not miss the light—or underestimate it. And may we be ready to let our light shine, brightening a world that is longing for hope.
Grace and peace,
Pastor Will
P.S. Is it time to lighten up? Where do you see light breaking through right now—in your life, in our congregation, or in the world around you? Click “reply” and share your answer. I’d love to hear it.
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