The Church of St. Gregory

Today we celebrate the Epiphany of the Lord - the manifestation of Christ as our King and Savior. Take a few moments to continue to cherish this Christmas season and reflect with this meditation... AN EPIPHANY MEDITATION by Fr. Charles Edwards... Gold, frankincense and myrrh have never been under my tree. No one has ever given these gifts to me and I have not given them to others as a Christmas gift. They were the three symbolic gifts that the wise travelers laid at the manger as they honored Jesus as their Lord and Messiah. Do we acknowledge Jesus as our Lord, Messiah and Savior? Have we leapt for joy at his coming and dwelling in our midst? Have we encountered that presence so near to us? Have we received his gift of self, his love, his peace, his joy? What a tremendous gift he gives, still even today for those whose hearts’ doors have remained open. God sent his son a gift. Mary (and Joseph) said yes to the angel a gift. Jesus began to call the first Apostles to come and see a gift. He cured, he healed, he fed and he forgave all gifts. He embraced the scourging, the crown of thorns, and the crucifixion gifts. He died for our sins to be forgiven a gift. He was raised from the dead by the Father a gift. He ascended to heaven and opened the gates that we might one day join him a gift. Together with his Father, they sent the Holy Spirit to give us that amazing grace to empower us to live as true intentional disciples as we seek to serve him with joy and gladness a gift. I believe the true Epiphany comes when we finally accept in our human limitations, when we accept Jesus as our Lord and Messiah, and we like John acknowledge his presence in our own journey. Our Epiphany comes when we try to realize how tremendously blessed we are in Jesus. Yes, as the old song says, What a friend we have in Jesus. It is then and only then that we, out of gratitude for all he has first done for me, we then strive to offer back to him our whole self the very best of who we are. What is the gift I have to offer back to him? All he wants is the very best of who we are. With gratitude, my faith calls forth from me the gift I choose to return to him. What shall I make a return to the Lord for all the good he has done for me ? Stewardship of time, talent and treasure is a beginning. Discipleship is a way of life I have an option to choose out of gratitude for all he has given me. Daily like Mary visiting Elizabeth, Christ knocks at my door, seeking to find another disciple to come and see. Sometimes our Holy Land can simply be at that door, that moment, that opportunity to be his disciple. Get out of the boat, out of today’s culture luring us away, and always strive daily to as be as Matthew Kelly says, the best version of yourself. The Lord will leap for joy and then one day say, Well done, good and faithful servant. Enter the kingdom. Seek this Epiphany, and be his disciple.

The first sunrise of 2021 ‘The Lord bless you and keep you. The Lord make his face to shine upon you and be gracious to you.... The Lord look upon you kindly and give you peace.’ Numbers 6:24-26 From all of us at the Church of Saint Gregory, our wishes for blessings of health and happiness with each new sunrise in 2021! #weareCSG #livingstones

Perhaps as we end a trying but graced year, we might offer the ribbons of our lives to Mary, Undoer of Knots, that she might help us enter a new year free from whatever knots we experienced in 2020. Blessings of health and peace to all in 2021! Happy New Year PRAYER TO MARY, UNDOER OF KNOTS Through your grace, your intercession, and your example, deliver us from all evil, Our Lady, and untie the knots that prevent us from being united with God, so that we, free from ...sin and error, may find him in all things may have our hearts placed in him and may serve him always in our brothers and sisters. Mother of fair love, I look to you. Take into your hands the ribbon of my life, and see the snarl of knots that keeps me bound to sin, anxiety, and hopelessness. I beg you, Mother, by your powerful intercession and long fingers of love and grace, undo the knots in my heart and in my life. Free me to love as Christ loves. Mary, Undoer of Knots, pray for us.