O God, by the leading of a star you manifested your only Son to the peoples of the earth: Lead us, who know you now by faith, to your presence, where we may see your glory face to face; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.
-The Book of Common Prayer
Today is Epiphany, a time to celebrate the wise men's visit to Jesus. Though I have never celebrated or even acknowledged this day as such, I am glad I stumbled upon this prayer. After putting away the Christmas decorations and throwing out our little tree, I put the celebration on the back burner, too. We did Christmas, and now it's time to move on. But today, almost two weeks after Christmas, we can pause and remember the bigger story.
Wise men followed a star to the place where a baby was born. They came face to face with the Savior - our Teacher, our King, our Jesus. This prayer asks God to continue leading us into his presence. Not by the guidance of a star or map or other tool, but by his Spirit's voice and invitation. We can see him and dwell in his glory. We can talk with and listen to the now-and-forever God.
Writing these words feels like an exercise. I'm working to bring truth of Jesus' presence back to mind. Today felt like a day prone to forgetfulness. I slipped easily back into busyness, and I found myself wanting comfort over discipline. And yet, here are words drawing me back to the wonder of Jesus. I need these words. I need to be trained in prayer - trained by the Truth of God's character and by the Son, his gift to us. Prayer, communion with the Father, wouldn't even be possible without the presence of Jesus. We would still be enlisting the aid of priests and rituals to present ourselves fully to God. But tonight I can pray along with others that God would lead us into his presence. I can trust that he is listening and that he will speak to me.
I am desperate for growth, but I'm also still very insecure when it comes to listening to you. I want to be able to sense your presence in all I do, but I know it takes time and trust. Go with me, God. Lead me in this learning process. Be patient with me, but hold me to a life of discipline. Let my mind continue to dwell on prayer and what it means to be in communion with you. Mostly, though, let my mind be on you and your Truth.
Amen.