kneel in wonder at heaven touching earth

Make your home among us. I wonder what the world would be like if we all lived as though Jesus had, indeed, made his home among us. Because, you and I might very well believe that he has, but there are many millions of people around the world who don’t.

Would there still be war? … or crime? … or poverty? … or any other negative aspect of life? Or would the world become a place where all of that is no more? … where peace and joy abound? … where the light of our Lord Jesus Christ reigns supreme?

Lord Jesus Christ,
light of the nations and glory of Israel:
make your home among us,
and present us pure and holy
to your heavenly Father,
your God, and our God. Amen

Additional Collect for The Feast of Candlemas
is Copyright © The Archbishops Council

From the Feast of The Presentation of Christ in the Temple, or Candlemas, we move into a brief period of Ordinary Time. This year it’s very brief, only two days. Because the coming Wednesday is Ash Wednesday, and then we’re into Lent.

You send the gospel to the ends of the earth and your messengers to every nation. Never in the history of the human race has it been easier to send a message around the world, than it is today. Within seconds of me clicking “publish” when I’ve finished writing this piece, thousands of people all around the world could be reading what I’ve written. As it happens, that isn’t going to happen; there aren’t that many people reading this blog. But, nevertheless, the potential is there. And there are some bloggers who will experience that phenomenon when they write a post to their blog. That’s an amazing and humbling thought.

With all of that potential, one has to wonder if we’re doing enough to really tell people the “good news” about Jesus Christ. Possibly not. But Christians all around the world are getting the message out. There are thousands of websites that tell of the “good news”. I don’t think for one moment we should rest on our laurels, but should continue to look for ways to communicate the gospel message to the world. But sometimes we do have to rely on God, through the transforming work of the Holy Spirit, to help forge that connection between what we do, and those people around the world that need to hear our message.

The Fourth Sunday of Epiphany
God of heaven,
you send the gospel to the ends of the earth
and your messengers to every nation:
send your Holy Spirit to transform us
by the good news of everlasting life
in Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Additional Collect for The Fourth Sunday of Epiphany
is Copyright © The Archbishops Council