Twelfth Night: Reflections on Epiphany 2016

Note: the above photo is “Bethlehem’s Orb” by Sheila Hunter and is used by permission.

Tonight is Twelfth Night, the eve of Epiphany when we remember how magi from Persia followed to Jesus’ birthing place an unusual God-flung orb of light that appeared in the heavens. The word “epiphany” means “manifestation” or “a striking appearance.”

(The remainder of this post, including an Epiphany poem, is published on the Patheos Unfundamentalist Christian site linked below.)

Source: Twelfth Night: Reflections on Epiphany 2016

‘Twas the Night

Silent night,
(pause)
holy night.
Stars whisper:
the earth is pregnant.

All is calm,
(pause)
all is bright.
Beneath indigo skies,
scurrying insects
quiet restless feet;
lowing cattle
lift ruminating heads;
blue-black night birds, wide-eyed,
scan the darkness.
Listen:
The earth is pregnant.

Silent night
(pause)
holy night.
We stop
wait
breathe
wonder
confess, perhaps.
Then–
a filling moon
overflows.
We sing.