My grandson, Liam, loves corn dogs. Last night while eating one at his aunt's house, he had an epiphany. "Mom! There's a hot dog in this corn dog!" His mom replied, "Yes, Liam, that's why they're called corn dogs." I often wonder how much the prophets understood the messages from God. They wrote down words that God shared and the images and statements there must have given them hope and wonder, but not the clarity with which we read these same words today. The idea of light for the prophets was easily understood, for they had seen their own contemporaries walking in darkness and leading others in that way. They understood the glory of the Lord, for they worked in that realm. But the notion of "nations" coming to "your light," and "kings to the brightness of your dawn," must have made them wonder. The idea of a Messiah being born and being made the light of the world was an accepted idea, but hundreds of years before it happened, the words were simply that of an accepted idea with the when of its completion completely unknown. Add to that that this vision also says these kings would bring "A multitude of camels," and "gold and frankincense."
We have the truth revealed, the Epiphany shared with us, that God worked in a way that made Jesus Christ for all the world, Jews and Gentiles alike. The Light of Jesus would shine on the darkness of all humanity for our good. The prophetic vision fulfilled on that night when the magi/kings came to where the child was, and offered to Him those gifts that Isaiah wrote about. And their homage was the praise that Isaiah saw in his vision.
We serve an awesome God. A God who hundreds of years before an event can share a glimpse of something great and glorious to come so that we might be stronger in our faith and more faithful in our service. The image of kings coming to a stable to find a child born in poverty does not make sense to a doubting world, but to the world that believes it is the Glory of God confounding humanity to prove the point that all matter to God. It matters not where you were born. It matters not how you were born or what social status your family enjoyed then; it matters that you recognize and accept that you matter to God right now and you are invited into a wonderful, abundant life journey with the Son of God, to realize and receive that perfect love that only God can share with us.
You ready?
PRAYER: Lord, put me to doing and help me in believing. Let Your Light shine brightly on my words, thoughts, and actions, so that I might join that procession of believers who praises You and Your Son, and seeks to be faithful in bringing others to that light. I ask this in faith and in the name of He born King of all people, Jesus my Lord, amen.
Have a great and blessed day in the Lord!
Eradio Valverde
