Good morning…
On January 6th, on the twelfth day of Christmas, Epiphany is celebrated annually. Epiphany commemorates the visit of the Magi to the Christ Child and the revelation of God the Son experienced as a human being.
We read the story at church on Sunday. As I revisit Matthew 2:1-12, here are the verses that stand out to me right now.
After Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, during the time of King Herod, Magi from the east came to Jerusalem and asked, “Where is the one who has been born king of the Jews? We saw his star when it rose and have come to worship him.”
…they went on their way, and the star they had seen when it rose went ahead of them until it stopped over the place where the child was. When they saw the star, they were overjoyed. On coming to the house, they saw the child with his mother Mary, and they bowed down and worshiped him. Then they opened their treasures and presented him with gifts… (Matthew 2:1,2,9-11, NIV).
Every year at this time, I open the gift of a star word. Star words provide a spiritual practice connected to the celebration of Epiphany, when a star in the sky rose up and guided the Magi to the presence of baby Jesus. For nearly a decade, the practice of sharing star words for the new year has been gaining in popularity in Protestant churches. I have a friend whose pastor offers a long list of words, each connected to a number. Each year, I chose a random number and she tells me my corresponding word for the new year.
Prayerfully led by the Holy Spirit, this year I chose the number 28.
“Your star word for number 28 is SIMPLIFY,” my friend texted yesterday. “SIMPLIFY, that seems like a word we can all use.”
“SIMPLIFY,” I responded. “SIMPLIFY is perfect for me, a beautifully guiding word for 2026.”
…Sue…
