Writings of a Beholder 🌿 1.13.23
what the season of Epiphany is forming within me
Weekly writings of a beholder 🌿
What the season of Epiphany is forming within me
“There was a man sent from God whose name was John. He came as a witness to testify concerning that light, so that through him all might believe. He himself was not the light; he came only as a witness to the light.
The true light that gives light to everyone was coming into the world.” (John 1:6-9)
Currently, we find ourselves in the liturgical season of Epiphany. I must admit that I’m very new to the liturgical calendar — also referred to as the church calendar — so I’ll do my best to explain what this all means as I understand it, and I welcome you to comment if you’d like to add to any of my muddled definitions.
According to Sacred Ordinary Days, “the liturgical calendar invites us to pattern our lives after the life of Jesus by participating in an ancient yearly rhythm of preparation and celebration, feasting and fasting, growth and renewal.”
Most of us follow the calendar year, beginning on January 1st and ending on December 31st. The liturgical year actually begins in Advent, moves through Christmas, Ephiphany, Lent, Easter, and Pentecost, and then ends with Ordinary Time.
It’s a beautiful way to move through the year with Jesus, as you remember and celebrate His life, ministry, death, and resurrection. The liturgical calendar is the story of God and of God’s people, and we are given the gift of turning toward each new season with fresh anticipation; leaning in close with open hands to see what God might do in us, through us, and all around us.
So, as I said earlier, we find ourselves in the liturgical season of Epiphany.
Ephiphany marks the end of the Christmas season beginning on January 6th and will last until February 21st this year. Epiphany is a season in the church calendar that invites us to dwell on the incarnation of Christ and notice all the ways in which He revealed Himself to those around Him. Like the magi who came to give Him gifts at the manger, those in attendance at the wedding in Cana when He turned water into wine, and the people watching as John the Baptist baptized Him in the Jordan River.
It's a time of celebrating the light that has come into the world and expressing our gratitude for how the light continues to live among us and in us today.
Although I’m a beginner when it comes to following the liturgical calendar, there’s something about this season of Epiphany calling to places deep inside me. It's uncovering the hunger I hold to notice all the ways in which God is revealing Himself to me in this season. To celebrate His presence in my life and to behold more of the miracle of God with me and the joy that is birthed from that reality.
One of the practices I’m implementing in this season of Epiphany is intentionally looking for where the Light pours into my days. I’ve opened up a new note in the notes app on my phone and almost every night, I review the day with God and reflect on where I noticed the gift of His presence gracing my day.
To help make this process easier, I’ve started taking pictures with my phone of these Light-filled moments, so that at the end of the day they’re stored right there for me like an invitation to linger a little bit longer in the goodness of God.
Here are a few of my favorite Light-filled moments that I’ve captured over the last couple of weeks:
Engaging with the Lord through this practice has made me think a lot about John’s words in the Scripture I shared at the beginning of this email, John 1:6-9,
“There was a man sent from God whose name was John. He came as a witness to testify concerning that light, so that through him all might believe. He himself was not the light; he came only as a witness to the light.
The true light that gives light to everyone was coming into the world.”
John the Baptist wasn’t the Light, and neither are we; not the One True Light. And I think I’m starting to be very ok with that. The more I receive the Light pouring into me and all around me, the greater my desire grows to be a pointer to the Light.
Someone who’s able to hold safe space for others and not carry the burden of having to have all the right answers, or needing everything to be perfect. This practice of noticing the Light is teaching me that God simply wants my fear-filled, brave yes and that things can be messy, uncomfortable, awkward, and all over the place and still be good.
John wasn’t the Light, and neither are we, thanks be to God. We get to be receivers and pointers, walking alongside Jesus as He reveals His Light to those around us. What a gift, and what a heavy burden off our shoulders, right?
We get to freely love God and others because the Light doesn’t depend on us and our performance, our follow-through, our works, or our expectations.
The Light loves and is Love and because of that, we can rejoice in being the Beloved while pointing those around us to the Light of every Beloved soul.
This is what God is forming within me during this season of Epiphany.
What is He forming within you?
peace be with you,
celia
A breath prayer for your weekend
breathe in:
You, Lord.
breath out:
Are my Light.
*if you’d like to learn more about the practice of breath prayer, check out this blog post I wrote titled, How to Use Breath Prayer.
Resources & fun things to pick up
This week, I released a new virtual program called Sacred Spaces — an invitation to behold more of God in the sacred spaces of your everyday life through the exploration of Christian contemplative practices. You can join today or read more about it here: Sacred Spaces with Celia
If you’d like to learn more about the liturgical year, I’ve been reading Welcome to the Church Year by Vicki Black, and it’s an excellent and easy read for those new to and wanting to learn more about the church calendar: Welcome to the Church Year
I also found this online resource list related to the church year with a beautiful picture of the liturgical calendar included: Intro to the Liturgical Calendar Resource List
If like me, you’re feeling overwhelmed by the new year, maybe the practice of discerning the season of your soul will be of help to you. In the latest blog post, I share the different characteristics of the soul seasons, some reflections to help you tend to your inner life, and end with a little prayer: Discerning the Season of Your Soul
My friend and fellow writer, Kari Bartkus, is offering an 8-week journaling course called Journal Gently designed to help you experience God’s presence in the midst of grief. I went through the 8-week writing program myself, and it was incredibly healing and life-giving. Check it out here: Journal Gently
Grab some breath prayer cards, a journal, and other contemplative resources from my Etsy shop: The Beholding Co.
Grab a copy of my Bible study, You Are Beloved: a 21-day study on how to root your identity in the love of God, over on Amazon.
An invitation to pause & reflect
A regular practice of reflection helps us recognize what’s going on beneath the surface of our souls so we can name it in the Lord’s presence. Because as we learn to name what we feel, what we need, and what we long for, we’re also learning to discern the Spirit’s sweet, gentle voice within our hearts and lives.
Take a few moments today or this weekend to journal or contemplate with the Holy Spirit the following question(s):
Where do you notice the Light pouring into your days?
What practices do you feel called to engage with in this season of Epiphany?
xo,
celia
