Epiphany figures Jesus being manifested to the world. Both the story of the Magi seeking him from afar and the Baptism of Jesus as the beginning of his earthly ministry are proclaimed as this church season begins. It reminds us that we have made baptismal vows to witness to Christ and to evidence him to others by our daily behavior toward others.

‘Our Lord Jesus Christ said: The first commandment is this:
“Hear, O Israel, the Lord our God is the only Lord.
You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart,
with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength.”
The second is this: “Love your neighbor as yourself.”
There is no other commandment greater than these.
On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.’

These are more than words or slogans for us. We claim it to be our mission statement. Moreover, it is properly seen as a way of living. A very hard way of living to be sure, but the way Jesus lived, and his call to us to emulate.

Epiphany season is not the only time we should look to spreading the Gospel of Jesus Christ. It is however a great time to remind ourselves that it is something we should do. “Need Based Evangelism” from our NCD process invites us to open ourselves to our neighbors near and far, to be of what service we can, to find ways to help, and to do these things consciously in the emulation of our Lord. It can be simply smiling at someone walking by the church on a Sunday morning and offering an invitation to join us. It can be reading to the children or serving lunch at school. And in this challenging time, it might be praying for openness and tolerance. And praying, period. The world needs the Spirit of Christ. We can help in real and wonderful ways.