Wonderful Words
February 6, we are still in the Epiphany Season, which other churches call “Ordinary Time” (ours does too in the Revised Standard Lectionary of the latest printing of The Book of Common Prayer). The Church is reading serially through 1 Corinthians, so there is not necessarily anything seasonally “epiphanic” about it. I love 1 Corinthians for theology, Bible study and Sunday school class discussion, but frankly Paul is more often a chore than a pleasure for preaching unless one is up for railing hellfire. 
The other three lessons are different, properly seasonal. Isaiah 58:1-12 today is a foundation with epiphanic meaning. God is illuminating us about how God’s view of sacrifice, fasting, differs from people’s notion of fasting. The people keep the fasting rules meaninglessly; but to God fasting is sacrificial lovingkindness, helping those in need. To some Christians today the object of Christianity seems to be simply to save oneself by accepting Christ, which seems selfish rather than loving. Christianity is not self-salvation but love and sacrifice for others:
6 Is not this the fast that I have chosen? to loose the bands of wickedness, to undo the heavy burdens, and to let the oppressed go free, and that ye break every yoke?
7 Is it not to deal thy bread to the hungry, and that thou bring the poor that are cast out to thy house? when thou seest the naked, that thou cover him; and that thou hide not thyself from thine own flesh?
8 Then shall thy light break forth as the morning, and thine health shall spring forth speedily: and thy righteousness shall go before thee; the glory of the LORD shall be thy reward.
Lovely powerful Scripture for Epiphany.
In The Magician’s Nephew of The Chronicles of Narnia, Aslan sings creation into being. Just so, the psalm in liturgy sings the Old Testament reading into harmony with the Gospel, and the Psalm 112 selection does this beautifully, also using epiphanic expression:
 4 Unto the upright there ariseth light in the darkness: he is gracious, and full of compassion, and righteous. 
Our liturgical climax is the Gospel, and today in Matthew 5:13-20 Jesus continues his Sermon on the Mount with teaching that is some of the most loved in the Bible. It is especially great Sunday School memory lines that last a lifetime. I learned these verses by heart as a child:   
14 Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid.
15 Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house.
16 Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.
My favorite Sunday School as a child was going with my grandfather Walter Gentry and first cousins Bill and Margaret to East Hill Baptist Church, Pensacola in the 1940s. Their Sunday School superintendent was a man named Proctor who was sales manager at Pensacola Buggy Works, the Chevrolet dealer. Proctor got me a 1950 Chevrolet model that I still have. Oops, digressing. Anyway, I loved the Baptist Sunday School because there, as well as memory verses and Bible stories I learned wonderful songs as a budding Christian, songs about the Word of God. Many are still with me and cherished in my heart --
Sing them over again to me, wonderful words of life,
Let me more of their beauty see, wonderful words of life;
Words of life and beauty teach me faith and duty.
Beautiful words, wonderful words, wonderful words of life,
Beautiful words, wonderful words, wonderful words of life..
Christ, the blessèd One, gives to all wonderful words of life;
Sinner, list to the loving call, wonderful words of life;
All so freely given, wooing us to heaven.
Beautiful words, wonderful words, wonderful words of life,
Beautiful words, wonderful words, wonderful words of life.
Sweetly echo the Gospel call, wonderful words of life;
Offer pardon and peace to all, wonderful words of life;
Jesus, only Savior, sanctify us forever.
Beautiful words, wonderful words, wonderful words of life,
Beautiful words, wonderful words, wonderful words of life.
As for myself, I am better each day, more strength and stamina. However yesterday morning I did a “dry run” to see if I could make it to Holy Nativity for church this morning. By the time I got out of the shower I was so exhausted I had to go back to bed for a nap!! So I’ll be at HNEC in heart and mind!
May you be blessed this day; and may you know it well and truly.
+Time
Tom+