The joy of Christmas continues! Environmental features remain from that festive season to remind us that we continue in our joy at the birth of God’s Son. During the Sundays after the Feast of the Epiphany, the star leads the procession into the church to remind us that we are the modern day Wise Ones who still seek the infant king and, finding him, bring his message to all the nations. This “Light to the Nations” now continues his epiphany through his earthly ministry which we follow in the Gospel readings for this season.

Blessings and curses abound on the sixth Sunday after Epiphany. We would do well to listen closely to whom the “blessed ares” and the “woe tos” are directed and to find our place in the crowd among those who desire to touch Jesus. The risen Christ stands among us in the mystery of the holy supper with an invitation to live in him, and offers power to heal us all.