"Perhaps you’ve been walking down this old path of self-rejection for too long. The world’s voices have been leading you astray; but good news, they don’t have to anymore. God’s voice is cutting through the noise, and if we choose to listen, we’ll hear it saying, 'My child, you belong. I love you. And in you, I’m well pleased.'”

Epiphany: The coming of the Wise Men to see and adorn baby Jesus as the Christ. In just 12 verses, we see quite the juxtaposition of old, worn paths being re-authored by new light. For instance, the Wise Men literally followed the light of a star in search of a new king. They met another group of "wise men" along the way. They were asked to walk down a certain geo-political path making sure to stay within the confines of the status-quo. Along the way, though, they feel the beauty of new light...and what happens next changes everything for us today.

As soon as the world catches their breath at the birth of Jesus, a chorus

of angels sing! Scripture says, “And suddenly there was with the angel a

multitude of the heavenly host, praising God and saying, “Glory to God in

the highest heaven / and on earth peace among those whom he favors!” This

act of worship demands our attention and our repetition.

Simeon was devout man who was told by the Spirit to go to Jerusalem and

commission the baby Messiah. He arrives on cue, takes Jesus into his arms

and sings to him a song that still reverberates today. His song leads us to

worship.

First Sunday of Advent - Mary's song is he gospel before the gospel unfolds. She visits her relative (probably cousin) Elizabeth and announces in song that she will forever magnify the Lord because of this miracle. During her pregnancy, she predicts the gospel before it unfolds. Her words still ring true for us today and lead us into worship.

Thanksgiving...

Our sins do not keep us from God. We used to think they did but not anymore. Jesus' "blood" (used as a metaphor), allows us the freedom to approach the sanctuary of God with boldness and confidence because the love of Jesus is greater than our sin.

Death is bigger than us. When it comes for our loved ones, it leaves us feeling wounded. Luckily, though, we have a truth that transcends death. Because Jesus endured and absorbed death itself, we now know that Jesus is even greater than death itself.

Part of the weekly and monthly rhythms of early Christians was to make sacrifices in the Temple for sins. Sacrificing animals to atone for wrongdoing is an ancient practice; one which Jesus has made obsolete. We don't need to sacrifice animals since Jesus is the ultimate sacrificial lamb.

The Law of Moses is what separated the good people from the bad. The law kept order and a systematic religion moving forward. At the time, to follow the law was to be close to God, but now we have a new way to draw towards God... we have Jesus.