An Epiphany About Discipleship

I’ve been thinking a lot about what it means to be a disciple lately. (Most of the time) I have the Bible reading down, an active prayer life and fellowship with Christ-followers and my neighbors.

But it still feels like there is a gap or hole in my becoming more Christ like. I would equate it to tapping on a watermelon and hearing that dull hollow sound coming from the bowels of the melon. It felt a bit like that.

I think that hollowness comes from not using our gifts and talents for worship.

“I use my gifts and talents all the time!” you might reply. And you are right. You probably do. I believe you.

What I think often happens is that we use our gifts and talents to accomplish a task and not to worship.

The story of the magi, today on Epiphany, their feast day, is the perfect reminder of what our gifts and talents should be used for.

But first, a retelling of the story of the magi in our modern ways.

The magi were men who had the gift of hospitality. Knowing that to be good Christians they were supposed to use their gift of hospitality, the men took off on a journey to be hospitable. What better way to use our gift of hospitality than to give gifts to the King of Kings! they thought. So they journeyed many months until they found the King of Kings as a little baby. The men all descended from their donkeys and camels to make their way into the Christ child’s house, weary from the long journey but excited to finally accomplish their task. The men gave three gifts and celebrated. They had used their gift of hospitality! Hooray!

This retelling is how we often think about our gifts and talents. We are supposed to use our gifts and talents to accomplish something. And while that is true, and necessary, it misses the larger point of what the true value of our gifts and talents is worship:

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 of gold, frankincense and myrrh. (Matthew 2)

The whole point of the magi using their astrology talents and traveling all that way was to use their gifts and talents in worship. If it is just to complete a task, it loses its full meaning and its ability to shape us into disciples.

As we begin this season of Epiphany, let the story of the magi remind you that our gifts are talents are supposed to be used in worship, and by using our gifts and talents to worship God we are shaped into the disciples he wants us to be.

What are your gifts and talents?

How do you think you can begin using those gifts and talents in worship?

Transfiguration Sunday Prayer

God Almighty, only you can sustain us.

We ask that as we have received Jesus Christ,

so may we continue to live our lives rooted

and built up in him.

Strengthen our faith through your power,

that we may serve others and overflow with

the mercy and compassion you have shown us.

Let this be a sign of our overwhelming thankfulness.

(+) Amen.

Eighth Week of Epiphany Prayer

To God be the glory and honor of generations,

a never ending sound of praise on the lips of humankind.

We rejoice in the goodness of the Lord and bask

in his infinite light.

We seek the Lord in the bustle of our lives,

we come to him in our quiet moments,

to taste and see that the Lord is good,

and that his love endures forever.

(+) Amen

Seventh Week of Epiphany Prayer

God Almighty,

Why have you asked that we be perfect as you are perfect?

We feel the inadequacies of our flesh and spirit,

they tear at us, and we struggle against them.

Help us now to know your commandments,

to love others as you have loved us,

to give freely of what you have bestowed upon us,

to walk with those who need a friend or guide,

and to cherish those who are looked down upon by the world,

that we may journey on your path, and become more like Christ,

your perfect son.

(+) Amen.

Sixth Week of Epiphany Prayer

Lord God, our Savior who has shown us triumph over sin and death,

come to us and bring us your peace which passes all understanding.

May we walk in your goodness with faithfulness, choosing to bring justice

into a world that is filled with oppression.

Anoint us to do your work, that we may be truly called the people of God.

Come into our midst and humble us,

drive out our timidity, bind our hearts to righteousness,

that we may strive for good works and not falter.

(+) Amen.

Fifth Week of Epiphany Prayer

God Almighty, Creator of Heaven and Earth,

set up your kingdom in our midst,

on earth as it is in heaven,

through the power of your Son, Jesus Christ.

May we breathe in his Spirit and exhale

our worries and cares.

Come now and meet us in our discomfort

and bring us comfort,

Come meet us in our despair,

and repair and renew us.

Come meet us in our hopelessness

and give us hope.

We ask for these things so that

now comforted we may give

comfort to others,

now renewed we may work

to see others repaired,

now hopeful we may show

others that you are our hope.

(+) Amen.