January 2008

The Wise Still Search for Him
 

Godt nyttår! Happy New Year! The first sermon text we are going to read in church in 2008 is the beautiful story in the gospel according to Matthew (2:1-12) about the wise men searching for the newborn king. Matthew is the only of the four gospel writers that shares this story with us. Please join us for worship in this exciting year of Matthew! I have said it before, and I repeat it: For a pastor coming from Norway it is very special to follow one gospel writer from one Sunday to the next, along with the churches here in America. This brings a closer connection between the Sundays in, more than by jumping in between all the four gospels, as we do in Norway! The start of a new calendar year is in the Christian church called the time of Epiphany. It comes between Christmas and Lent. It is one of my favorite church seasons. The Bible texts these weeks are revealing the person Jesus, and who he is, from different perspectives. What has been hidden to humankind about our God, is being shown us through his Son. January 6th has from early Christian times been celebrated as “Epiphany of our Lord”. In the orthodox churches (like the Greek, the Russian, the Coptic etc.), Epiphany coincides with Christmas. They have another calendar (the Julian) than other Christian churches (the Gregorian calendar). A special thing in 2008 is that the time of Epiphany is extremely short. It lasts only till February 5. The reason is that Easter comes as early as it possibly can this year (March 23rd is Easter Day). So already on February 6, which is Ash Wednesday, we start the countdown to Easter. Take a look at this special candle on the right. Three candles in one. In Norway we call it a “Hellig Tre Kongers lys” (Holy Three King’s Candle). It might help us meditate on the mystery of our faith in a triune God. He has promised that if we search for him, we will find him. Just as the wise men did. May the Holy Spirit guide us in our searching. And remember, the wise still search for Him.

 Per Inge Vik vik@mindekirken.org

The Norwegian Lutheran Memorial Church ·  924 E. 21st St, Minneapolis, MN 55404-2952 ·  (612)874-0716