In describing your life, I can save you a lot of time. Life is summarized with two “S” words: surprises and setbacks. Stand for the Creed? There you have it.

Thank you for listening. Now for today’s boring sermon.

For non-believers (once called pagans but that’s not politically correct anymore although it still applies), it is winter’s slowing lightening to spring and all those budding stuff emerging from the ground, followed by the richness of spring’s hopes and summer’s heat and its frolicking. (I don’t know who frolics anymore, but it sounds like fun.) Ummmm. Easy, simple, convenient, and obviously and completely wrong.

For us, not-so-bright Christians? (Get it? “Bright.”) Where do we find the light? Where do we find light? We find light in darkness. In the darkness of darkness, we see, yes, light. We see light when we, well, when light is needed. This is what the Epiphany is all about.

When said, “I had an epiphany,” that’s just an idea. That’s from you. An Epiphany is something beyond yourselves but arrives within yourselves. The first is from the “pagans,” and the second is Divine.
During the darkness of indecision; light. Felt in the darkness of doubt; light, during haunting questions about life here or the life after here? You guessed it. Spell it out! Christians seek light in the darkness when light is most needed. How about the dark places of our lives that we refuse to admit and see? Or those dark places within us that we haven’t even uncovered yet?

Flashlight? Nay … needs batteries. Relying on our own nearsighted eyes looking inside ourselves? Nope. That’s called one-sided.

We seek the light that this holy day provides. A heavenly star that brought nations together, even if for a short time, to show that this light is universal and eternal. Those two “S’s” that happen to us are the same two two that happened to Jesus Christ. Those surprises and that setback.

I hate it when a friend tells me, “You gotta see that Netflix film. It’s great. The hero is killed in the end.” Am I surprised? No! Because now I know the ending. Why waste two hours when I already know the ending?

That’s what happens with our prayers. Try praying without providing God with the answer. That’s not prayer, that’s a command! Giving a solution or resolution to God? If answered with your wish, you tell your friends for years to come about how your prayer was answered with your answer. Surprise? Nada. (whispering) That’s called idolatry.

Pray is always buttressed through the seven gifts of the Holy Spirit, you will be enlightened with more insights and guidances than you can imagine. There are many unexpected surprises during this beautiful journey of life. (“unexpected surprises” is redundant, but you get the meaning.) Coupled with life’s setbacks – full of troubles, trembles, and travails.

Epiphany shows us today that all is okay. Motel 6 spokesman Tom Bodett famously said, “We’ll leave the light on for you.”

Well, how about the story of our faith? Three kings (whose names we can never remember), a villainous governor (whose name we all know), two tired parents (we know them), an unnamed donkey with a map and magic marker yellowing directions to Egypt, shepherds (all without names) wondering if their sheep are still in the hills, angels (no names provided) looming all about…and only one bright lone star constantly shining through all of our darknesses of fears, doubts, uncertainties, and despairs. As well as life’s joys, successes, and peace. Always hoping that the latter outweighs the former. The song “Away in the manager?” Forget about it. Away? So, very wrong.

Apparently, with a joyful smile on his sleepy face is this newborn babe full of surprises and setbacks for both himself and for us. He’s asking us to be “newborns” each day.

What are their names? They are the Divine star of God, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit saying to us every Sunday (and those other misnamed days), “Our light is forever brightly lit and lovingly burning away for every one of you.”