Happy New Year.
On January 6, the Church celebrates the Epiphany and recalls how guided by a star, the wise men from the east came to do homage to the infant Jesus and offered gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh.
Their studies of the heavens had led them to believe that an important event was happening. So important that they left their ordinary lives behind, endured the hardships of a long and difficult journey and brought with them their valuable gifts for the newborn king.
At the start of a New Year, it is a time for us to take stock as we make our plans for the months ahead.
What is going to be the guiding star in our lives that leads us on and what will we find at our destination? What is our goal? Success, a good job, family, friends?
As we journey through the new year, our Christmas celebrations may be over, but we can still celebrate the birth of Jesus and acknowledge the good news that he brings by recognising Jesus present in those we meet in our daily lives. In Matthew’s Gospel, Jesus calls us to feed the hungry, give drink to the thirsty, welcome the stranger, clothe the naked, visit the sick and those in prison and he says, “as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers and sisters, you did it to me”.
May the Joy, Peace and Good Will of Christmas continue throughout the year transforming our world.
Sue Cooper, from Corpus Christi Church, writing on behalf of Churches Together in Wokingham
