Devotion
All are welcome
Frances Taylor
But are they? One of the gifts of the Feast of the Epiphany is the realization that Jesus came for ALL people. When we see representations of the Magi coming to worship the new King, we notice that they are of mixed races. We are aware that they are not Jews, but they seem to know that the star they noticed "at its rising" is a sign that the promised one has been born. At this moment in time, seem to be having difficulty seeing that we are all images of the one God, brothers and sisters regardless of race, nationality or religion. We have some choices to make in this New Year. We can follow the example of Jesus who welcomes all, or we can follow the example of Herod who wishes to destroy. The road to peace is a bumpy one and requires effort. It is a road of acceptance, compassion, forgiveness and taking responsibility for our actions. We can choose to fuel the fires of division and hatred, or we can choose love. As we count down the last few days of this Christmas season, let us decide how we want the world to look. What is the legacy of all our prayers during Advent and Christmas? Let us open our arms to receive one another in peace and love so that all may feel welcome in our churches, our neighborhoods and our community.
Prayer
Dear Lord, help us to recognize you in the faces of all your children and make them welcome. Amen.
Night Prayer
Strive to enter in at the strait gate: for many, I say unto you, will seek to enter in, and shall not be able.
Inspiration
When driving, we tend to use the main highways as much as possible. Those roads are big, they’re designed to accommodate a lot of traffic, and they lead to popular destinations. But our spiritual journeys are different. It is the narrow gate, Jesus himself, that leads to eternal rest. No other road, no matter how well-traveled, will get us there. The ways and ideas of this world may be popular, but they don’t lead to a good destination.
Prayer
Father, thank You for sending Jesus to not only show me the way to You, but to be the way. Help me to listen to his leading so that I may follow him, staying on the narrow path that leads to salvation. Even if the people around me don’t understand, and choose to go another way, guide me so that I may not stray from You. In Jesus’ name, amen.
