We are almost out of Epiphany – the time we see God’s Glory shining in the face of Jesus and we are going into Lent soon
The light of Epiphany shines brightly through today’s Scripture readings. St. Paul confronts us with a frightful, yet amazingly graceful, truth about ourselves: “Do you not know that you are God’s temple and that God’s Spirit dwells in you?” (1 Corinthians 3:16). Each of the baptized is God’s temple, an in-dwelling of God’s Spirit! This could frighten us. Or—and this is what Paul was getting at—it could enliven us to show the mercy of God in our lives. Provide for the poor. Deal truthfully in business. Care for those with disabilities. Love your neighbor as yourself. Lutherans know that none of these earns us salvation; but we also know that since in Christ we are God’s temple, where the Spirit dwells, loving our neighbor as ourselves is not optional. It is the fruit that we bear as the people God made us to be. And so again God calls us to “let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven” (Matthew 5:16). This is bright Epiphany light indeed. Creative Worship for the Lutheran Parish, Series A, Part 1. Copyright © 2013 Concordia Publishing House. All rights reserved. Used by permission.
