I find myself considering two seemingly opposing messages of the Christian faith today. The message of Christmas is particular; it takes us to meet a particular child and confess that he is the Son of God even at his birth. Epiphany celebrates the universality of Christianity, emphasized, as we heard in the sermon yesterday, by interpretations of the magi as travelers from distant lands.

The message of Epiphany is rooted in the universal hope present throughout the Bible. The book of Genesis, for example, shows God promising Abraham that his descendants will be a blessing to many nations. This hope appears when women, like Rahab and Ruth, who are not Israelites became incorporated into the story of God’s people. Some of the prophets even envision a time when their enemies will come to worship with Israel. The universal message of Epiphany is a message of hope.

But the message of Christmas is equally present. Powerful passages from the Old Testament emphasize the uniqueness of God’s relationship to Israel. In Deuteronomy, we hear that “God has chosen you [Israel] out of all the peoples on earth to be his people, his treasured possession” (Deuteronomy 7:6 nrsv). God’s choosing of an individual nation is a beautiful act of love. But it can also imply exclusion: Noah and his family survive the flood but no others. The Israelites inherit the land of Canaan, but most of the former inhabitants are driven out. The Christmas message that emphasizes particularity is a message of love and grace, but on the surface also hints of exclusion.

The church year asks us to hold these two together: the universal and the particular. Experience and people wiser than myself suggest one way to do this. It is only through our rootedness in a particular community and faith that we can begin to embrace others. Standing on the foundation of a community of faith that looks to the birth of the Son of God in a particular place, we can then begin to embrace our neighbors who stand on other foundations. The particular message of Christmas leads to the universal message of Epiphany. Our strength comes from the particular child so that we might welcome those who travel from afar.

Contributed by Philip
Monday January 7, 2013
Liturgical Year C: Week 6
Liturgical Color: White
Sunday Gospel reading:
Epiphany of Our Lord