The Wise

SECOND SUNDAY OF CHRISTMAS, TWELFTH NIGHT, & THE FEAST of EPIPHANY

First, a note from me

Dear Restful friends,

What a joy it has been to celebrate the weeks of Advent and Christmas together. I’m grateful for your companionship through the prayers and practices of these two seasons.

As we enter the season of Epiphany, may you continue to walk in the light as He is in the light. You can read a bit more about the liturgical history of Epiphanytide here. Essentially, we walk through the accounts of Christ’s life between his birth and before his Passion, emphasizing the moments Christ was revealed (made manifest) as the Son of God. If the Incarnation is about God becoming man, Epiphany is about God’s revealing this man, Jesus, as a divine Son, sent to make God visible to us. Get ready for some of the most beautiful, captivating accounts of Christ’s life, teaching, and healing in the coming six weeks. Celebrate that Christ came and moved into the neighborhood!

In much the way the Magi remind us that Christ was given to all peoples, it’s significant to recognize that, for much of the world, the Feast of Epiphany is celebrated with much more fanfare than Christmas Day. This is a great time to learn about their traditions. At the bottom of today’s meditation, I’ve added a hearty list of ideas for you to celebrate the weeks of Epiphany. Pick one or more to share with friends or family in the coming weeks. (I’ll refer back to them again in my Epiphany Sunday meditations).

We have spent Christmastide with G.K. Chesterton. Before we return to our once-a-week format, I would love to hear what’s lingering with you as we leave Christmas: leave me a comment or reply directly to this email. No matter what you notice from this feast of scripture, prayer, music, and art we’ve been enjoying together, there’s no better day than today for us to come and adore Jesus.

May you know the light and walk in the light in the coming weeks,

Tamara

p.s. You might have noticed a couple of extra notes from Restful this week. Each weekday in January, I am sending you a few minutes of encouragement and resources to help you begin 2025 in the restful way of Jesus. The weekday posts are public and free for everyone and I hope they’ll feel like a gift.

Now, back to our Twelfth Day of Christmas meditation

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Community Practice & Prayer

Read today’s lectionary passages from the Book of Common Prayer (Year C)

Jeremiah 31:7-14; Psalm 84; Ephesians 1:3-14; Luke 2:22-40

The scripture readings for the Feast of the Epiphany on January 6

Isaiah 60:1-9; Psalm 72; Ephesians 3:1-13; Matthew 2:1-12

Pray out loud the Collect for the Second Sunday of Christmas from the Book of Common Prayer.

O God, who wonderfully created, and yet more wonderfully restored, the dignity of human nature: Grant that we may share the divine life of him who humbled himself to share our humanity, your Son Jesus Christ our Lord; who lives and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

A Collect for the Feast of the Epiphany on January 6

O God, by the leading of a star you manifested your only Son to the peoples of the earth: Lead us, who know you now by faith, to your presence, where we may see your glory face to face; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.

Keep practicing and praying the daily office from the Book of Common Prayer

You can find the Daily Office Lectionary, Morning and Evening prayer from the Book of Common Prayer here: https://www.biblegateway.com/reading-plans/bcp-daily-office/next

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Contemplative Practice & Prayer

Begin with a simple breath prayer from the Old Testament passage for the Epiphany (Isaiah 60:1):

Inhale: Arise, shine,

Exhale: for Christ’s light has come.

Repeat gently until you sense you are ready to enjoy today’s art image and poem.