Epiphany Sunday

January 3, 2016

    

Below you will find a reflection for today, Epiphany Sunday. We encourage you to share this reflection by forwarding this email to others who you think might appreciate it. This is our last reflection for the Advent-Christmas season. We hope you have found them to be meaningful, inspiring and enriching. If you have enjoyed these reflections and the other resources we have provided to you over the past year, we hope you'll consider making a donation to support these efforts by clicking here. As always, thank you so much for your generosity and support.

Epiphany Sunday
 
by Tom Cordaro
Pax Christi USA Ambassador of Peace

Those whose eyes are cast towards the ground will never see the stars


The author of this part of the book of Isaiah is no longer in exile in Babylon but is living in Palestine. In this text the author interprets the return of the exiles not merely as good news for the nation of Israel but as an event of universal proportion. This is quite a hopeful declaration given the fact that this ragtag collection of exiles has nothing but ruins and faith.
    Paul writes to the Ephesians from prison. You might think that his dire predicament might temper his outlook. You would be wrong. For Paul, nothing happens, good or bad, that does not in some way further God's plan for humanity. And what plan is that? That in Christ all people will be united-Jews and Gentiles.
     Paul is hopeful, but not necessarily optimistic. Optimism is the conviction that, sooner or later, things will turn out all right. It is founded in the belief that eventually all the wrongs will be balanced out by good. Hope, according to Paul, is the strength of conviction that enables us to risk it all on God's promise in spite of the overwhelming evidence to the contrary...

To read this entire reflection, click here.

In Christ's peace,

 

Johnny Zokovitch

Director of Communications, Pax Christi USA


P.S. To see more Advent and Christmas resources from Pax Christi USA, click here.