Wednesday prior to Epiphany 3

 

[1]

Isaiah 9:1-4—When Isaiah wrote these words, there was darkness in the land. Assyria conquered Zebulon and Naphtali and carried off the people to bondage. There was the darkness of oppression, homelessness, and forced labor. In today’s world there is also much darkness: loneliness, pain, bereavement, poverty, and addiction to drugs or alcohol. We rejoice that in Christ the light has begun to shine as Jesus begins His ministry. What is the joy of a Christian? It is basically the joy of having Christ. He is the Light of the world. To have Christ is to be free from the power and condemnation of sin and from the consequences of sin — death. Joy is a by-product of Jesus’ preaching the good news of salvation, His teaching the truth of God, and His ministry of healing to our bodies and minds.

When we are in the midst of trouble, we can’t imagine things will so improve that the sorrow, pain, fear, and anxiety will change to joy. Here is the promise to God to a people living in the oppression of darkness. There may be reasons to despair of their condition.

While Goethe was dying, he cried, “Light, give me more light!” This is the cry of a world that is dark and threatened with death. It is the cry of those in the darkness of pain and doubt. What is the answer? Is there a way out? In God’s word we see; there is darkness in the world. Isaiah reminds us; “a people who walk in darkness.” Yet the light is here in Jesus Christ; “they have seen a great light.” This light overcomes the darkness, “on them has the light shined.”

Collects for Epiphany 3: Almighty and everlasting God, mercifully look upon our infirmities and stretch forth the hand of Your majesty to heal and defend us; through Jesus Christ, Your Son our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. [2]

 Collect for Wednesday of the week of Epiphany 2: Whenever we try to face life with nothing but the strength that is ours, show us, O God, how poor it is. Then, share with us Thine own, down the ways of Thy steady purpose.  Through Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen [3] -18 January, 2023

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[1] Lift High the Cross, © Ed Riojas, Higher Things
[2] Collect for Epiphany 3, Lutheran Service Book © 2006 Concordia Publishing House
[3] Collect for Wednesday of the week of Epiphany 2, For All the Saints, A Prayer Book For and By the Church, Vol. III © 1995, The American Lutheran Publicity Bureau, Delhi, NY