God’s Active Light
Rev. Erik Swanson
January 5, 2025
The beginning of a new year, like 2025, naturally inspires reflection, resolutions, and plans for transformation. While significant changes may seem appealing, small, consistent adjustments can yield profound impacts over time. A metaphor from hiking illustrates this: a slight misalignment in direction can lead to a significant deviation from the intended path. Similarly, even minor spiritual shifts can result in large transformations, emphasizing the importance of intentional, directional change.
The Story of the Magi
This principle is echoed in the story of the Magi, who followed the star to discover the Light of God. Their journey underscores the value of being open to divine guidance and aligning one’s path with God’s will. Transformation in the spiritual life is not change for its own sake but a purposeful realignment towards God’s vision for who we are meant to be. The Magi’s story invites us to contemplate the Light of God not as a passive symbol but as an active, guiding force leading us toward growth and new beginnings.
The Symbolic Significance of the East
The passage also highlights the symbolic significance of the East, a place of renewal and fresh starts. The Magi’s journey from the east, prompted by the star rising in the west, parallels the rising sun’s daily renewal. This imagery ties into the liturgical season of Epiphany, which follows Christmas and celebrates the ongoing presence of God’s light in the world. The challenge for believers is to integrate the celebration of divine light into daily life—paying attention, seeking guidance, and embracing new opportunities illuminated by God’s wisdom.
Engaging with the Divine Light
To embody this, we must actively engage with the divine light in our lives. Instead of expecting dramatic revelations, we are encouraged to seek insight, wisdom, and paths through challenges. By observing, waiting, and embracing opportunities as they arise, we can notice doors opening and new ways forward, often through unexpected people or circumstances. These moments of illumination reflect God’s active guidance.
Embracing Courage and Inclusivity
The Magi also serve as an inspiration for courage and inclusivity. Their willingness to leave familiar surroundings, embrace the unknown, and follow divine guidance models the spiritual journey of risk, discovery, and transformation. This journey often involves venturing into “foreign” territories—within us or the world around us—to uncover new insights and deepen our faith.
Moreover, the Magi’s inclusion in Jesus’ origin story is a powerful reminder of God’s universal embrace. These foreign seekers, outsiders to the Jewish tradition, were guided and transformed by God. Their inclusion highlights God’s work with all people, transcending divisions and affirming the universality of divine love and guidance.
The Light of God is Active
As we step into 2025, may we embrace the Light of God as an active, guiding force. Let us seek new ways to see, follow, and be transformed. May we find inspiration in the Magi’s courage and inclusivity, welcoming the divine guidance found in unexpected places and people. In doing so, we can move toward the newness of our being, shaped by the active presence of the Living One in our lives. Amen.