A New Year, Another Way

Friends,

In the life of the Church, Christmas does not end on December 25. We are given a season to linger at the manger, to marvel at the Word made flesh, and to let the wonder of the Incarnation settle into our bones. We sing familiar hymns, tell beloved stories, and rejoice that God has come among us, not in power or spectacle, but in vulnerability and love.

Yet the Church does not allow us to remain there indefinitely. As the Christmas season gives way to Epiphany (January 6), our gaze begins to shift. The child in the manger is revealed as the Light of the world, not only for those who already belong, but for all people, in every place. Epiphany is about manifestation. God made known. God seen. God recognized.

The visit of the Magi captures this movement beautifully. These outsiders, guided by a star, are drawn toward a truth they do not yet fully understand. When they arrive, they offer their gifts and then return home “by another way.” Epiphany reminds us that an encounter with Christ always changes our direction. To see Jesus clearly is to be reoriented.

For us, this transition invites reflection. Christmas assures us that God is with us. Epiphany asks what that truth means for how we live. If Christ is revealed as light, where are we called to shine? If Christ is known as gift, how are we to give ourselves for the sake of others?

As we move from the warmth of the manger into the wider world of Epiphany, we are invited to carry the light we have received beyond the walls of St. Andrew’s. The story continues not only in scripture, but in all of us.

I pray each of you has a happy and safe New Year’s Day. See you all Sunday!

Peace and Grace,
Father Logan