8 January, Thursday — On Epiphany   

Thursday after Epiphany Sunday

1 Jn 4:19-5:4
Lk 4:14-22

…and his commandments are not difficult, because anyone who is begotten by God has already overcome the world…

Christmas has come and gone, and now, as we settle into the new year, we begin to reflect on the week that was Christmas. For a lot of us, the Christmas season involves hosting family – these are people we love, but also people we are forced to tolerate. I have one of those in my circle. Someone who brings her sense of entitlement to the table every year, whose bread is resentment, and wine is envy, who is openly hostile, and derisive of the effort that goes into hosting the whole family at Christmas.

“Whoever does not love a brother whom he has seen, cannot love God whom he has not seen”. I have often wondered how I am supposed to love someone like that. I struggle with this same individual every Christmas. One cannot so easily ‘cancel’ members of one’s family without having to deal with the fallout that comes from estrangement. Social media will lead you to believe that Christmas is one of the most inauthentic seasons of the year, and there is truth to that secular line of thought. You are forced to show generosity and goodwill to people who want you to fail, who don’t have your back, and see you simply as a means of facilitation. They are not even polite about it. And yet, you are forced to smile; and be gracious to one and all. Fake much?

Enduring the season, and the nastiness of ‘frenemies’ and resentful family members is possible only through the grace of God. It is not possible to bear it alone. Only through prayer, does one survive the festive season. “His commandments are not difficult, because anyone who is begotten by God has overcome the world”. God helps us to conquer not just the vermin of this world, but our own hurt and indignation with having to host these sorts in our homes. ‘I can bear all things through Christ who lives in me’ is a mantra I repeat every year, to save myself and my family from the drama of ugly confrontations.

Christmas is challenging for a lot of us, and I for one, am glad it is over. I am grateful that we have settled into the gentleness of Epiphany. Epiphany brings with it the reassurance that we do not struggle alone. Epiphany offers hope for our weary, angry souls. Epiphany fills our hearts with the knowing that by the grace of God, we have survived another year. Epiphany brings with it, the promise of forgiveness and God’s all-enveloping love. God has our back — we are seen and heard, and all the suffering of Christmas is behind us.

(Today’s OXYGEN by Sharon Soo)

Prayer: We pray for the fortitude to show generosity and forgiveness for those who have no love for us. We pray for the maturity to do it for Christ, who first modelled the way for us.  

Thanksgiving: We give thanks for the Holy Spirit, who fills us with prudence, patience and wisdom, especially during the festive season.