It’s Epiphany Day. Appropriately, I had a small epiphany.
I lead a weekly Bible study in a senior citizens apartment complex for a group of a dozen or so elders aged 70-95. Today, I went into the Bible study with a raging headache that was probably a physical manifestation of a lot of recent stress. In fact, I would have to place yesterday near the top of my “worst days” list, for reasons that I need not detail here.
Anyway, the Bible study commenced. We were in the 16th chapter of Matthew, which opens with the Pharisees and Sadducees coming to Jesus to “test” him by asking for a sign. Jesus refuses, saying that plenty of signs had already been given that they failed to interpret. The chapter closes with Jesus assuring his disciples that his work would not be done until he had come in glory to judge the earth, and that “there are some standing here who will not taste death before they see the Son of man coming in his kingdom.”
We discussed how the early church had been troubled by these words because many of their number died, either through persecution or old age, without witnessing the return of Christ. Then I told them how the whole New Testament had developed to address the need to re-interpret Jesus’ words about his coming, and that he comes to us time and again and reveals the kingdom to those ready and willing to recognize it. “If we’re paying attention,” I told them, “we see signs all around us. The kingdom does not come all at once, but is unfolding before us, breaking in all around us. If we are alert and prayerful, we’ll see the signs during our lifetimes.”
One member of the group then leaned as far over her Bible as she could reach, and with eagerness and curiosity in her eyes, she asked, “Pastor Mark, what signs do you see?”
On the inside, I smiled. For as she asked me this question, I noticed my headache had melted away. This unassuming group of seniors had ministered to me with their attention, their trust, and their genuine interest in understanding the scriptures. And this one woman’s question was not only hers, but God’s. Indeed, the question itself was a sign. I gave her some examples of how I had witnessed God’s spirit at work among people who exercise God’s love, offer God’s hospitality, practice God’s forgiveness, and give testimony to God’s grace. There were lots of nodding heads and murmurs of ascent. And I was reminded that ministry is not all about leading a religious institution or growing a church. It is – maybe primarily – about paying attention and noticing the signs of God’s kingdom breaking in. It’s also about being thankful for the privilege of witnessing such moments and helping others become more aware of them.
On this Epiphany Day, let us consider how God has been revealed to us. What signs of God’s presence have you witnessed?
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