Jesus is the light of the world. Our light will illumine others, so God is known, worshipped and obeyed.

The light of Christ is the divine energy and power of God through Jesus. Be the light in the dark. The light guides toward truth and love. It shifts our heart posture to see others in a new way. Commitment, courage and compassion fuel our light.

Have you ever tried to keep a tune while others are singing a different song? It is hard. By renewing our baptismal covenant, we renew and recommit to the song we know of God’s love.

We must renew and recommit regularly, so that the screaming around us won’t throw us catastrophically off key from our song. We know being loud doesn’t make one right. The love of God is what shines in the darkness.

The world wants our hearts to be hardened. But we must remember that many believers have walked difficult paths. We must renew our devotion to peace and see traces of God in all people. Every single person is a beloved child of God. Let us be the means that others can know Jesus.

During the Feast of Epiphany, we celebrate Jesus appearing to the gentiles.

God created this space so we all could participate in the mystery of Jesus. The wisemen came from different nations and cultures. Despite their differences, they were invited to accept he mystery of Christ. They were not fascinated or mesmerized by power. They were transformed by the love Jesus emanated.

The Gift of Jesus shows how God’s love is transnational. It does not discriminate. God defends the needy, delivers the poor and pities the lowly.

So how can we today be faithful when times feel dark and heavy?

Look up, find a star and remember God has the whole world in his hands.

When John the Baptist is imprisoned for speaking out, he is most relatable, his weakest and the most like us.

When life has not gone according to plan and our expectations are not met, we may feel lost. This is when doubt and uncertainty can only be overcome by the truth of the Gospel.

When John questions the truth of the Gospel, Jesus doesn’t respond with a miracle on demand but instead he asks his disciples to report what they hear and see. The only proof John needed, or we need today is the lives that have been transformed by the love of God.

Overcome the doubt and uncertainty today by remembering how you have been transformed by the love of God. Love has made the way clear for us to be a part of the reason for hope.

Matthew’s story of John the Baptist reminds us of his remarkable life in the wilderness, uncompromising calls for repentance, direct confrontation with corruption and championing for justice at all costs. He lived by anything but the cultural norms.

John’s vision of redemption meant complete destruction of the world. But Jesus comes along to show us that God’s love can transform.

The world is pregnant with the kingdom of God. Bruised and confused, the world is the one God loves so much that he became a part of it with Jesus.

We can’t pretend the world today is the kingdom, but we don’t need to burn it to the ground. We need to live radically to see all human beings with the love of God. Loving the world and one another to be destined for redemption not destruction.

The first week of advent, we look in two directions. We are preparing for Christmas, a time to remember and celebrate the birth of our Lord Jesus. But we also look forward to the second coming of Christ.

In opposition with the feverish consumerism and mandatory jolliness of the season, advent calls us to sit, wait and watch. We balance between expectation and memory. How do we prepare for the second coming, something we cannot predict? Being constantly ready feels traumatic, but we must remember the way Jesus came to this world the first time. He came to us in humility and vulnerability, so we look for his second coming amongst the lowly; serving and loving one another.

On Christ the King Sunday we celebrate Jesus, the king of the universe and our hearts.

Luke’s story of the crucifixion reminds us of the truth in a confusing time during the rise of Christian nationalism. Let us not shrink Jesus down. Christian nationalism assumes God endorses has a national identity where God works for the world.

God is bigger. We serve a God of all people, working for all people throughout the world. We should not rush to the top to look down on others but to the bottom where we serve and help those in need as Jesus would do. Jesus is expanding compassion, deepening hope and meeting us where justice and mercy embrace.

Jesus is the GOAT. Greatest of All Time, the ultimate servant leader, transforming the world and all of us from the inside out.

When there are times of persecution, where do you turn? Allow the holy scripture to feed your peace. Allow it to sturdy your foundation and plant your feet.

Your belief in the truth of God’s word lets you know you’re never alone. God is in relentless pursuit of his creation, you.

Scripture outlines a roadmap to navigate a holy life, a good, healthy and prosperous life but also how to navigate hardships. When Jesus calms the waters he showed the disciples the power of faith.

Mother Kimberly shares a personal story of her experience of intense fear during the political and racial tensions of 2021, specifically during the insurrection on January 6th.

She looked to the word to guide her with peace and strength. God promises we will not perish and hope in him is stronger than death.