The Deacon’s View     “Have You Gotten It?”

In the season of Epiphany we focus on the Light of God’s presence. In Jesus, the Light has penetrated our world in a new way.  The Gospel lessons of Epiphany are about “getting it”(the Light), recognizing the Light, reacting to the Light, responding to the Light.

Four fishermen dropped their nets and responded to Jesus’ words,  “Follow me”.  In dropping their nets, they also dropped their livelihood, their family responsibilities, everything.  What made them do this?
In the synagogue an unclean spirit defies Jesus’ teaching, yelling out “ What have you to do with us, Jesus?”  But at Jesus’ words “Be silent and come out” the unclean spirit obeyed.  Why?
The entire town of Capernaum turned out bringing all who were sick and possessed seeking to be cured.  And many were. But why were only some healed?
A paralytic was brought to Jesus and Jesus first forgave his sins.   What was going on here?

John the Baptist summed it up “The time is fulfilled and the Kingdom of God is near.”  In Jesus the world’s slippage from the Creator’s perfect plan for peace, justice and reconciliation with God was beginning to be reversed, restored and healed.

What strikes me in all these Epiphany lessons is that the reversal back to the original plan took place one person at a time.  And every time a person really “got it” and was open to being changed by the light they were moved into greater wholeness and the healing and restoration inched a bit further ahead.  When people “got it” the Kingdom grew.

What challenges me personally is that knowing about Jesus, or even believing in him is not enough.  To really “get it”  involves being deeply changed by him.  In the remaining weeks of Epiphany there is still time to focus intentionally on the Light that has come into our world inviting each of us to be as changed as those fisherman who dropped everything.
                      ~Gay Blundell