Epiphany

​​Isaiah 60:1-4 reads, 

“Arise, shine; for your light has come,
    and the glory of the Lord has risen upon you.
For darkness shall cover the earth,
    and thick darkness the peoples;
but the Lord will arise upon you,
    and his glory will appear over you.
Nations shall come to your light,
    and kings to the brightness of your dawn.” (NRSV)

Epiphany is a celebration of the light of Christ, disclosed to us in the story of the magi coming from lands far away to worship the newborn son of God. During epiphany, we remember God’s promise that light will overcome darkness, even in the midst of surrounding chaos, such as with the devastation of God’s creation here on Earth. With increased pressure on migrant populations attempting to cross the U.S. border due to a merging of economic, social and environmental concerns in their home nations, we remember God’s promise that light will come through the glory of the Lord. This painting depicts various forms of destruction to Earth’s environment with border wall fencing along the top, yet the work of the Spirit shines through this chaos through the work of communities such as FFPCUSA.

In the midst of chaos, Epiphany reminds us to sing praise that representatives from FFPCUSA and the Presbyterian Peace Fellowship were able to walk over 200 miles to the General Assembly this past summer, meeting with frontline communities, faith leaders and scientists on their journey who taught them more about dangerous threats to creation and how nonviolent action can help address these threats. We sing praise that these siblings in Christ were able to share God’s witness to push for action to address climate change with commissioners and delegates at the assembly in St. Louis. And with the stars of a new calendar year, we sing with unbounding hope that in the midst of chaos here on Earth, God continues to show up. We sing our praises as, together, we attempt to do the same.

Emma Warman is an artist, seminarian and member of the Activist Council of the Presbyterian Peace Fellowship.